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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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Shelf ,_££. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Polished Stones 



Sharpened Arrows 



& Collection of 

SCRIPTURE TEXTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR 

THE CHRISTIAN WORKER AND 

THE HOME 



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B V 

C. rJ W. BI 



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NEW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 
13 Astok Place 



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Copyright, 1889, 

BY 

T. Y. Crowell & Co. 



The Library 
or Congress 

WASHINGTON 



ELECTROTYPE D BY 

C. J. Peters & Sox, Boston. 



ifi? Briobrti JFatJjer, 



WHO FOR NEARLY SIXTY TEARS SO FAITHFULLY PREACHED THE 

GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, 

AND WHOSE UNWAVERING FAITH HAS DONE MUCH TOWARD 
STRENGTHENING MY OWN LIFE, 

<Tf)is Ifolume 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED RY 

THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 



It was our Lord's favorite method of teaching, to bring 
into use some familiar figure to illustrate the truth he 
wished to impress upon the hearts of his hearers ; and 
we, his followers, will often find an apt illustration the 
best means of touching the secret spring of the heart, 
and causing its door to swing open to receive the same 
truth at our hands. 

Doubtless some of the illustrations in this collection 
are already familiar to many into whose hands this little 
work will fall ; but as our aim is not for originality, it 
is hoped that they may prove not less useful than those 
which are entirely new. 

The reader will observe that some of the selections are 
not intended to be confined to the texts of Scripture 
under which they are placed, but may appropriately be 
used under numerous other headings. 

This volume has been prepared with a threefold pur- 
pose in view. First, To serve as a handbook of illustra- 
tions for the preacher, the teacher, and the Christian 
worker, that they may abound more and more in every 
good word and work. Second, That it may be the means 
of arousing some sleeping Christian to a higher sense of 
his duty to himself, his fellow-men, and to his God. And 
last, but not least, that some unsaved soul may be directed 
to the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the 
world." If in either of these purposes I have been 
successful, my labor has not been in vain. 

C. W. Bibb. 
Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 1. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGE 

I. The Christian Life 1 

II. Trust in Christ 37 

III. Stagnant Pools 55 

IV. Power of Christian Influence 63 

V. Temptation 81 

VI. Secret Sins 91 

VII. Serving God our First Duty 101 

VIII. Personal Work Ill 

IX. Prayer 141 

X. Charity 149 

XL The Christian's Reward 161 

XII. The Bible 167 

XIII. God's Love to Man 177 

XIV. Christ the Only Way 191 

XV. Chhist's Willingness to Save 219 

XVI. Christ Invites all Men to Salvation . . . 239 

XVII. Only Believe 263 

XVIII. Xow 277 

XIX. Danger in Delay 291 

XX. Personal Appeals 319 

XXI. Trying to Save Yourself 333 

XXII. Satan's Devices 343 

XXIII. The Blood 353 



vn 



INTRODUCTION. 



The value of illustration in speaking and in writing 
cannot be over-estimated. But if illustration passes 
into mere ornamentation, it may be a hinderance rather 
than a help. " Illustrations are the windows of thought." 
If they are stained windows, which color the light rather 
than transmit it, they will inevitably attract the 
thought to themselves rather than reveal that thought 
to us. How can we make illustrations interpret the 
truth to the hearer, instead of diverting the hearer from 
the truth ? If they can be so employed as to throw 
their light upon Scripture, and so to irradiate the word 
of God that it shall become luminous while the illustra- 
tion is quite forgotten in the higher glory of the text, 
the end is attained. Illustration is the John the Baptist 
preparing the way of the truth, saying evermore, " I am 
not that light, but am sent to bear witness of that light." 

The aim of the excellent volume which we hereby take 
pleasure in introducing to the public is just this which we 
have above indicated. May it throw its illustrative light 
on many a gospel message of preacher and worker for 
Christ. 

A. J. Gordon. 
Clarendon Street Church, 
Boston, Feb. 1889. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 



HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IX HIM OUGHT HIMSELF 



ALSO SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED. 



1 John ii. 6. 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 



'• Looking unto Jesus" — Heb. xii. 2. 

Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one 
said to the other, " Let ns see who can make the straight- 
est path in the snow." His companion readily accepted 
the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his 
eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking them off 
the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the 
tree also, and. when he had gone a short distance, he 
turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. 
He went a little distance farther, and again turned to 
look over his steps. When the}' arrived at their stopping- 
place, each halted, and looked back. One path was true 
as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. 
" How did you get your path so true ? " asked the boy 
who had made the crooked steps. "Why," said the 
other boy, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept 
them there until I got to the end ; while you stopped, 
and looked back, and wandered out of your course." 
Just so is the Christian life. If we fix the eye of our 
hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ, and 
keep them continually fastened thereon, we will at last 
land at the desired haven, with flowers of immortal 
victory at our feet. 

Many Christians stop in their course, and take their 
eyes from the objective point, and look back over their 

3 



4 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

course, brooding over the crooked places they have made. 
Oh ! that we could learn to let the past take care of the 
past, and we press forward •■ toward the mark of the high 
calling," fixing our gaze on the adorable Jesus. Avhose 
light will shine around us. and guide us in our straight 
pathway. 

" Would you lose your load of sin ? 
Fix your eyes upon Jesus. 
Would you know sweet peace within ? 
Fix your e}*es upon Jesus." 

"He shall sit as a refiner." — Mal. iii. 3. 

" Some years ago, in Dublin, a company of ladies met 
to stud}* the Holy Scriptures. One of the ladies observed 
a peculiarity in the words "He shall sit as a refiner." 
After some discussion, a committee was appointed to call 
on a silversmith, and learn what they could on the sub- 
ject, and report at the next meeting. They called at 
the silversmith's, who readily showed them the process. 
"But, sir," said one, "do you sit while the refining is 
going on?" — "Oh, yes. madam!" he said, "I must 
sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the surface, for if the 
time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest 
degree, the silver is sure to be injured." At once the 
ladies saw the beauty and the comfort, too, of the pas- 
sage. As they were leaving the shop, the silversmith 
called them, and said that he wanted to still further 
mention that he only knew when the process was com- 
plete by seeing his own image reflected on the silver." — 
MacKnight. 

How glorious to be so refined by Christ that his blessed 
image will be reflected in our lives, and attract and win 
those about us to him. 



TBE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 5 

•• And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the 
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou host sent." 

Jno. xvii. 3. 

It is said of Dr. Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who 
was cruelly condemned to be beheaded by Henry VIII., 
when he came out of the Tower, and saw the scaffold, he 
took from his pocket a small testament, and, turning his 
eyes heavenward, said, "Now, Lord, direct me to some 
passage which may support me through this awful trial " ; 
he opened the book, and his eyes fell on these words : 
"This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, 
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent " ; he closed the 
book. and. looking to God, said, " Praise the Lord ! this 
is sufficient, both for me and for eternity." 

Thrice blessed is he who seeks to knoAV "God and 
Jesus Christ, whom he has sent " ; and doubly thrice 
blessed is he who, when he has been made acquainted 
with God, tries to bring others to the like relationship. 
Dear reader, are you doing this ? Does Christ's love flow 
through you, unto lost souls ? Does your walk in life 
lead any soul to Christ ? 

" There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." 

Pnov. xviii. 24. 

In the city of Baltimore, not long ago, two Christian 
young ladies set out to do missionary work in the subur- 
ban districts of the city. They soon came to a small 
cottage, standing on the edge of a field, where they found 
in one corner of the only room, the poor wasted form of 
the husband. At a glance they saw he was in the last 
stages of consumption. They began conversing with 
him, but, seeing he was disturbed, they soon left the 
house. As they were leaving, one of the ladies handed 



6 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

the sick man a gospel tract. He glanced at it. and threw 
it from him: it lay beside his pallet until it became 
soiled and worn. One day his eye rested upon it. and he 
read the title. " Do you want a friend ? " He thought of 
his condition, and said to himself, " Surely, if any one 
needs a friend, it is I." He asked his wife to hand him 
the soiled paper, and he again read. " Do you want a 
friend ? " " There is a friend that sticketh closer than 
a brother.'" He read the tract through, and requested 
his wife to bring him her Bible. The Spirit opened the 
eyes of his understanding, and revealed to him the 
unsearchable riches of Christ : and he was led to believe 
in Christ unto salvation. I doubt if either of the young 
lady missionaries ever knew what precious fruit the 
tract yielded, and they probably will never know until 
the poor consumptive greets them in heaven, and tells 
them how they rescued him from the verge of hell, and 
led him to the blessed Saviour. 

One word to you. Christian reader : " In the morning 
sow thy seed (the word of God), and in the evening 
withhold not thine hand." Sow ! sow ! sow ! •• Cast thy 
bread upon the waters, and it shall return unto you after 
many days." It may be after your soul has been admitted 
to the bliss of heaven, but it will return, bearing fruit. 



'•Whosoever, therefore, shall he ashamed of me and of my 
words in this adulterous and sinful (feneration, of him 
also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, alien he cometh in 
the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 

Mark viii. 38. 

In the *• Confessions of St. Augustine " he relates a story 
of Yictorinus. an eminent man at Eome, who had won 
the respect of a large number of his countrymen, among 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 7 

whom were many heathen. When the spirit of God 
dawned upon his heart, and the light of Christ therein 

shone, he went direct to one of his friends, and told him 
that he was a Christian. The friend replied. " I will 
never believe it until I see you openly profess your new 
faith in the church. " The above text came to him with 
such force that he went back to his friend, and boldly and 
openly confessed Christ as his Saviour. 

My friends, how is it with you ? Do you shirk your 
duty ? are you afraid, ashamed of Christ ? Remember, 
there may come a time when you will need his strong 
arm to support you. and it will be withdrawn : " When 
ye call. I will not answer." 

u Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he 
cometh shall find watching? — Luke xii. 37. 

An Arctic explorer found, floating helplessly about 
among the icebergs of that cold, lonely country, a ship. 
Going on board he found that the captain was frozen, 
and sat dead at his log-book, while the helmsman stood 
at his post, and the men on watch still on duty, but cold 
in death. What happiness will it be when our Lord 
doth come to know we have done our duty, and can wel- 
come our Saviour as he bids us •• come up higher."' 
•• Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he 
cometh. shall find watching.*' Reader, are you ready ? 
Are you ever watching and waiting the coming of your 
Lord ? 

" I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts. 
Neither will L accept an offering at your hand. ,} 

Mal. i. 10. 

Miss J. F. Willing says that in the church of Ara Cieli 
in Rome, there is always a large wooden doll, the Holy 



8 THE CHBISTIAX LIFE. 

Bambino, which represents to its worshippers the child 
Christ. " When we went to see it," she says, "the priest 
unlocked and opened doors and drew aside bolts and 
bars, as if he had to keep his treasure with the utmost 
care. And well he might ; for. ugly bit of wood that it 
was, its clothes were ablaze with precious stones. Its 
reputation for miracles and getting up thunderstorms, 
etc., would hardly have hindered a burglar from helping 
himself to its wealth had a chance been given." Peo- 
ple who wanted to show their love for the Saviour had 
brought these worth}* gifts, and laid them upon the 
shrine of this wooden representation of his babyhood. 
Such foolishness God has declared an abomination in his 
sight, and that such acts of praise are honoring the devil 
and not God [Deut. xxxii. 17] who declares, " To do jus- 
tice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than 
sacrifice." 

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I 
also deny before my Father which is in heaven." 

Matt. x. 33. 

In the city of Boston, some years ago, lived a lady who 
was known as the most beautiful woman in the vicinity. 
One day the house in which she lived was found to be 
on fire, the flames spread rapidly ; the lady rushed into 
the burning building to rescue her infant daughter. The 
names sadly disfigured her once beautiful features, and 
she became a hideous cripple, but she saved her daugh- 
ter. Years passed, the daughter grew to be a beautiful 
woman ; one day she and a companion were walking 
down the street when they met a poor cripple woman ; 
as they passed her. the companion asked the daughter, 
" Who is that hideous creature ? " The ungrateful 
daughter did not say it was the dearest friend on earth to 



THE CIIRISTIAX LIFE. 9 

her : that she had sacrificed her earthly joy and beauty to 
rescue her from an awful death. No ! no ! She simply 
said. •■ I don't know who she is.*' Methinks I hear the 
reader say. " ungrateful wretch ! " But. dear friend, multi- 
tudes of ns are doing ten thousand times worse than this 
ungrateful child ; we are denying the one who rescued 
us from the gaping jaws of endless torment, and gave his 
own life to save ns ; the gay world asks us who he is ; we 
answer " I don't know." Did you ever think what it is 
to be denied by the great judge? The denial comes 
when we most need the support of his strong arm, when 
all earthly support has left us, and we stand trembling 
before the bar of justice. But there is in the darkness 
of this scene a ray of light, for the same judge says. 
•• AVhosoever shall confess me before men, him will I 
confess before my Father which is in heaven. Happy 
arc we if our daily walk confesses Christ before the 
world. And we have the Son of God to stand before the 
Father confessing us. 



" If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall 
ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." 

Jxo. xv. 7. 

A few years ago George Muller, the superintendent of 
the great orphan asylum of Bristol, England, paid this 
country a visit. In a lecture delivered in one of our 
cities, he told upon what basis the Society was conducted. 
On many occasions, said he. we do not know at one meal 
where food for the satisfying of the hundreds of little 
mouths is to come from for the next meal, and in such 
cases we always assemble and lay our case before God. 
and we have never yet been disappointed. It always 
happens that some Christian's heart is moved to bring or 



10 THE CHRISTIAN LIVE. 

send a contribution just in the hour of need, and during 
all these years of the institution's existence we have 
never once been disappointed, because we trust in God to 
supply and care for the army of little unfortunates, 
which seems almost beyond the power of human efforts 
to do. Neither will the child of God ever go away 
empty handed, provided he abides in Christ, which 
insures the abiding of Christ in him, and through whom 
"we can do all things." We ofttimes marvel because 
our prayers are not answered; but my friend, if you 
would halt and examine the Spirit in which the prayer 
was uttered, you would the more marvel if your prayer 
was answered. Here is the assurance of answer to your 
prayers "If ye abide in me ask what ye will and it shall 
be done unto you." By faith our hearts must be inter- 
linked to the blessed Christ, which will insure our 
earnestness in asking. In Christ, we cannot ask wrong, 
out of Christ, we cannot ask right. "Therefore I say 
unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye 
pray. Relieve that ye receive them, and ye shall have 
them." 

Too many prayers are uttered in a half-hearted way. 
and which never ascend to the Father for want of zeal 
to fire them on their flight. Many rise no higher than 
the tide waters of this world can waft them, because 
they are uttered in the spirit of worldliness which can 
not ascend unto spiritualness. 

My dear young friend, profit by the experience of past 
ages, and when you pray " enter into thy closet " and 
when thou hast shut out every form and thought of 
worldliness, open thy heart's door and pour out thy soul 
to God. Then you will realize the truthfulness of our 
text. " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, 
ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 11 

•• And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, 
and be not afraid" — Matt. xvii. 7. 

During our late war, a poor widow received a despatch 
saving her only son was severely wounded. Immedi- 
ately, the sorrowing mother started to the front to care 
for her son. When she reached the hospital, the sur- 
geon at first refused her permission to see him, say- 
ing, a He is now sleeping, and the sudden surprise of 
your presence may prove fatal." But the mother plead, 
and promised not to wake her wounded boy. As she sat 
in silence by the bedside, she gently laid her hand upon 
the forehead of her sleeping son, and that moment he 
opened his eyes, saying, " ! Mother ! I am so glad you 
have come." How unmistakably similar is the presence 
of Christ in the heart of one of his trusting children. 
Like an electric flash the wires of his heart are set in 
motion, and he sweetly communes as "friend with 
friend." The child of God knows the touch of its 
Master, and rests in security in his presence. 

"For I have cjiren you an example, that ye should do 
as I Jut re doneT — Jxo. xiii. 15. 

It was the custom among the ancient Romans on 
important occasions to bring the images of their de- 
parted citizens, who were noted for their good citizen- 
ship, before the people, that the thought of the original 
might inspire the people to emulate their virtues. 

So the image of the wonderful character of Christ, so 
plainly portrayed in the Scriptures, should arouse us to 
activity in following the example he has left for us. 

When we consider what he accomplished during his 
life in three and a half short years, ought it not to 
inspire us to imitate him as far as possible. He went 



12 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

about continually doing good. Should we not make that 
our motto ? His great heart throbbed with sympathy, 
for the fallen around him. Should not the same spirit 
find lodgment in our hearts and aid us in helping those 
around us to lighten their burdens, and to learn to lay 
all on the shoulders of the Strong One ? 

Such a life never dies ; we may pass away and be 
forgotten, but our lives live on and on through all 
eternity. 

"Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he 
cometh, shall find so doing" — Mat. xxiv. 46. 

It is said of Sir Henry Havelock, that one day he was 
going over London Bridge with his son Harry ; he said 
to him, " Stop here, Harry, till I return." 

The father completed his business and returned home 
alone. After a short time his wife asked, "Where is 
Harry ? " " Why bless me," replied Sir Henry, " I left 
him on London Bridge, and I am sure he will remain 
there until I return." He hastened to the bridge, to find 
his son waiting his return. 

There comes to the child of God, hours when it seems 
as if he must give up all efforts to labor for his master. 
Dark hours come, hours of discouragements fall upon 
him, and he feels as if not only earthly friends had for- 
saken him, but that Christ Jesus had withdrawn his 
presence. Dear reader, such scenes come to us all, but 
thanks be to God, for his uplifting promises, such as : — 

" He that endureth to the end shall be saved." 

" I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." 

" Lo, I am with j'ou alwa}~s." 

" My grace is sufficient for thee." 

Shall Ave not then go forth with renewed vigor, plead- 



TUB CHRISTIAN LIFE. 13 

ing the precious promises of God ? His great, strong 
arm is sufficient to bear us up, and then, too, his willing- 
ness to help us ; no sooner do we make room for him in 
our hearts than he tills us. 

Oh, what encouragement we have to watch and work 
and wait, because we know he is with us and will not 
forsake us. 

" Ye also shall bear witness." — Jxo. xv. 27. 

When the late Commodore Foote was in Siam, he had 
upon one occasion the king upon his vessel as a guest. 
Like every true Christian should do, he did not hesitate 
in the presence of his royal highness to ask a blessing 
as the guests took their places at the table. 

"Why, that is just as the missionaries do," said the 
surprised king. " Yes," said the godly Foote, " and I am 
a missionary too." 

What a golden truth this godly man uttered. Every 
one born into the kingdom of Christ is in duty bound 
to become a missionary, and every true child of God is a 
missionary because he is laboring to sow the seed of the 
gospel in the hearts of those around him. It is not neces- 
sary to go to some dark, unexplored continent in order 
to be a missionary ; we have work to do at home, some of 
us under our own roofs, in leading souls to Christ. 

Would to God we had more of the missionary spirit in 
our hearts, that we become more earnest and active in 
leading souls, with whom we daily associate, to the foot 
of the cross. 

Christians will find it helpful to frequently ask them- 
selves, — what kind of a witness am I ? and to whom am 
I bearing witness ? 

These two questions should ring in our cars until our 



14 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

hearts become on fire with the missionary spirit, and we 
find ourselves daily seeking to lead souls to Christ. 

" Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it 
unto me." — Matt. xxv. 40. 

There is a legend which says it was the custom of St. 
Gregory, after he became pope, to entertain every evening 
at his own table twelve poor men, in memory of Christ's 
twelve apostles. It is said that one evening there were 
thirteen instead of twelve — he summoned his steward 
and asked how it happened. The steward counted and 
could make but twelve. At the end of the meal St. 
Gregory asked the unbidden guest who he was. " I am 
the poor man whom thou didst relieve. My name is 
Wonderful, through whom God will give whatsoever ye 
ask." St. Gregory knew he had been entertaining the 
Lord Jesus. 

And so may we entertain him too if we only open our 
hearts and bid him come in. '-Behold I stand at the 
door and knock, if any man open, I will come in unto 
him." 

On the other hand, we can never entertain Him until 
we empty our hearts of selfishness and give him com- 
plete sway. 

" Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness." 

1 Tim. iii. 16. 

An old Hindoo story says, that Ammi one day called 
his son to him and said, "My son, bring me a fruit of 
that tree and break it open. What is there ? " 

The son replied, " Some small seeds." 

"Break one of them, and what do you see," said the 
father. " Nothing, my lord," said the son. " My child," 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 15 

said Ammi, ••where you see nothing, there dwells a mighty 
tree. - ' 

So it is in our experience ; at times we allow Satan to 
cast over our eyes a film darkening the preciousness of 
(rod's word, and while we may fail to see the exquisite 
beauty therein, it contains a mighty truth whose end is 
eternal life. 

"If ye Ji are faith as a grain of mustard seed, . . . 
nothing shall be impossible unto you." — Matt. xvii. 20. 

It is said of Dr. Charles Pitman, that as he stood be- 
fore an immense audience one afternoon to preach to 
perishing men, the sky became dark and a terrible 
storm threatened to disturb the services. Lightnings 
hashed thick and fast, loud thunders rolled, the congre- 
gation became frightened. The godly man kuelt clown 
and poured out his earnest soul to God to hold back the 
storm for one hour and let him go forward with the ser- 
vices, and that souls might be saved. Three times he 
repeated his petition. A member of the congregation, 
who took note of the time, said afterward that it was 
difficult to say which produced the greater effect, the sig- 
nal answer to prayer or the zeal and pathos of the 
preacher. As Dr. Pitman closed the services of the hour, 
he said, " Go to your tents and fall down before God and 
thank him for this glorious privilege we have enjoyed 
together." As the last of them entered their tents, the 
elements broke forth from their pent-up prison, and a ter- 
rible tempest raged ; it is said that over five hundred were 
converted to Christ. 

Oh, my Christian friends, how oft do we come to the 
Throne of Grace with our petitions, and plead for our 
needs in a half-way manner, and then wonder how the 
words of our text can be true. Christ's promises to us 



16 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

are, " Ask what ye will, believing " and it shall be granted 
ns. Oh, how many of our prayers are never heard by the 
Father, how many of them are too worldly to ever be 
allowed into heaven's record, and how we wonder and 
pine at our imfruitfulness ; and at times murmur at the 
galling }*oke of Christ. Friend, our hearts are not right. 
They are filled with something else. 

•• If ye abide in me, and my yards abide in yon. ye 
shall ask what ye trill, and it shall be done unto you:" 

Jxo. xv. 7. 

A modern novelist tells us of a great bell which was 
made to vibrate by the note of a slender flute. The 
flute had no influence upon the bell, except when a 
certain note was sounded ; then the great mass of metal 
breathed a responsive sigh. 

So it is only when our wills are in accord with God's 
will that we experience an answer to our prayer, and the 
feeble human cry seems to elicit a divine response. 
There is a pre-established harmony between the voice 
of the Shepherd and the hearts of the sheep. "If ye 
abide in me, and my words abide in you. ye shall ask 
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." — Edward 
Judsox, D.D. 

" Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 
To them who by patient continue /ice in well-doing seek for 
glory and honor and irn mortality, eternal life." — Eom. ii. 7. 

When Scarron, the wit and ecclesiastic, as poor as he 
was brilliant, was about to marry Mme. de Maintenon, 
he was asked by the notary what he proposed to settle 
upon Mademoiselle ; he replied, " Immortality. The 
names of kings' wives die with them ; but the name of 
the wife of Scarron will live forever." 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 17 

So Christ is pleased to bestow on him who by a life of 
patient service, merits honor, glory, immortality, life eter- 
nal. " He that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree 
of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God " ; 
and he who by patient endurance holds out to the end 
shall be made a partaker of that immortal glory, hid with 
God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

•• Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the 
morrow shall take thought for the things of itself " 

Matt. vi. 34. 

"I compare the troubles," said Mr. John Newton, 
" which we have to undergo in the course of a year to a 
great bundle of fagots, far too large for us to lift. But 
God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He 
mercifully unties the bundles, and gives us a stick which 
we are to carry to-day, and another which we are to carry 
to-morrow, and so on. How much easier life would be 
if we could learn to carry each day only the burdens 
appointed for that day, and not take up yesterday's 
trouble, and add it to to-morrow's cares. 

William Jay very beautifully says on the same thought : 
" We consider the year before us a desk, on which lay 
365 sealed letters — one for each day, prescribing its 
duties. We much desire to unseal each one, which would 
only add to our burden," while it would violate the will 
of our Maker, who expressly commands not to let the 
weight of one day's cares trespass on that of another. 

"For he doth not afflict willingly^ nor grieve the 
children of men" — Lam. iii. 33. 

As Mr. Cecil was walking one day in the Botanical 
Gardens of Oxford, his attention was arrested by a tine 



18 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

pomegranate tree, cut almost through the stem, near the 
root. On inquiry the gardener said : " Sir, this tree used 
to shoot so strong that it bore nothing hut leaves. I was 
therefore obliged to out it in this manner ; and, when it 
was almost cut through, it began to bear plenty of 
fruit." 

There are times in our Christian experiences when it 
becomes necessary for God to sorely afflict us to bring 
us back to the post of duty : it may be the taking away 
of an idolized loved one, reverses in business, or some- 
thing else that is infringing on the time that belongs to 
our Christian duties. 

He may be compelled, for our good, to cut us to the 
very quick to bring us back to bearing fruit. Whatever 
it may be, rest assured it is for our own good and his 
glory. 

"Not unto us, . . . but unto thy name gioe gloryP 

l\s. cxv. 1. 

After the battle of Agincourt it is said of Henry 
V. that he wanted to acknowledge the divine interpo- 
sition, he ordered the chaplain to read a Psalm of David, 
and, when he came to these words, "Not unto us — not 
unto us, Lord ! but unto thy name give glory and 
praise," the king dismounted, his officers dismounted — 
the cavalry all dismounted, great hosts of officers and 
men fell on their faces in reverence to their Great 
Deliverer. 

When we contemplate what great victories we have at- 
tained over sin, through Christ, how fitting to fall before 
God in thanksgiving and praise, crying, "Xot unto us, 
but unto thy name be the praise." " For thou hast 
redeemed us to God by thy blood, which was shed for 
the sins of many." 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 19 

11 I will guide thee with mine eye. — Ps. xxxii. 8. 

A blind boy sat one day by the wayside begging. A 
Christian gentleman, passing by, halted, and began talk- 
ing to him, and offering his sympathy in his misfortune. 
" Ah, my poor boy ! your case is very sad indeed." — 
•• Not so very sad, sir," replied the boy. " While it has 
pleased God to deprive me of my outward sight, he has 
given me a sight far more precious. He has given me 
the sight to see his Beloved Son ; he has opened the eyes 
of my understanding, and I behold, written in letters of 
gold, his great and precious promises. He has opened 
the eyes of my soul, and I behold my sinful life made 
white through the blood of the Lamb. And, while I 
have no physical sight, he comes to me, saying, ' Son, be 
of good cheer. I will guide thee with mine eye.' What 
more, sir, can I ask or wish for ? " 

Oh, the preciousness and comfort of that soul which 
is so lighted by devotion to Christ that the infirmities of 
the body can be forgotten ! 

" Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness." 

1 Tim. iii. 16. 

" A great banquet was given by King Edwin in honor 
of his nobles. A discussion arose as to how they should 
receive the Christian missionary Paulinus, who had just 
arrived from the continent. Some argued the sufficiency 
of their Druid and Norse religions, and voted the death 
of the invading heretic ; others were in favor of hearing 
his message ; finally, the king, to quiet the discussion, 
asked the opinion of his oldest counsellor. The vener- 
able sage arose and said, ' Oh, king and lords, you all 
observed the swallow which entered this festal hall to 
escape the chilling wind, and how it vanished through 



20 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

an opposite window. Such is the life of man. Whence 
it came and whither it goeth no one can tell. Therefore, 
if this religion brings light on this great mystery, it 
must be diviner than ours, and should be welcomed.' 
" The advice of the venerable sage was adopted." 

"Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of 
entering into his rest, some of you should seem to come 
short of it." — Heb. iv. 1. 

A gentleman who was present at the death of an aged 
man describes the scene as follows : " The dying man 
had a large family of grown-up sons and daughters, 
part of them sons and daughters by a former wife. 
The gentleman noticed some coolness existing be- 
tween the two factions as they stood around the bed- 
side of the dying father, who soon peacefully passed 
away. Kind friends took charge of the remains and 
tenderly prepared them for interment. While doing 
so they heard loud words in an adjoining room, and one 
of the party went in unannounced ; on the floor lay the 
dead man's papers and documents, while the brothers 
and sisters were eagerly examining the contents of a 
large desk, hoping to find the last will of their deceased 
parent ; each anxious to know what part of the estate 
would fall to him. And so intense was this desire that 
they overlooked the solemnity of the occasion." 

My friend, there is a last will and testament in which 
your name is mentioned as one of the legatees. The 
blessed word of God has for you " great and precious 
promises," whereby you may escape the lusts of the 
world and find life eternal. Will you heed the command 
of the Lord Jesus to " search the scriptures " and find . 
that portion of the eternal inheritance that is bequeathed 
to you ? 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 21 

•• A /most persuaded." — Acts xxvi. 28. 

There are certain places along the Alpine Mountain 
ranges, where the snow piles up so high on the lofty 
peaks that the crack of a whip, or a loud cry, will cause 
the vibrations of the air to start the snow and prove sud- 
den death to the traveller. 

From this some Christians can learn a much-needed 
lesson in advising those convicted of sin. Their salvation 
hangs by a slender cord — a sensitive pivot ; one word 
may turn the balance and send it headlong to eternal 
death. Every Christian should, in such cases, ascertain 
as far as possible the state of the inquirer's heart before 
he begins to give him advice, and ever keep his eyes 
fixed on the Holy Spirit to speak through him those 
words that may undermine the false props of the 
inquirer's trust, and lead him to the feet of Jesus 
Christ. 

" Let your light so shine." — Matt. v. 16. 

In South America there is a tree called the " Rain 
Tree." During the wet season it absorbs the moisture, 
and when drought sets in, it gives forth the moisture in 
drops of water, refreshing the thirsty traveller, and feed- 
ing the vegetation around it. 

The traveller soon learns to look for these green spots 
in the parched wastes of the desert. So should be every 
Christian life. It should absorb the love of Christ to 
such a degree that those around him might be attracted 
by the pleasant atmosphere, and be led to the Fount, giv- 
ing forth the true water of life. Reader, this is your 
duty as a follower of Christ — this is your privilege as 
one of the blood-ivashed — this is your portion as the heir 
of eternal life. Are you doing it? 



22 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

"Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my 
slip not. — Ps. xvii. 5. 

On a bright July morning, some years ago, a gentle- 
man, famous for his learning in science, started with two 
companions to ascend Piz Morteratsch — a steep snow 
mountain of Switzerland. Their experienced guide took 
a strong rope and tied it around the waist of each man. 
" Keep carefully in my steps, gentlemen/'' said the guide, 
" for one false step may start the snow and send us down 
in an avalanche." Hardly had his words left his lips when, 
by a sudden misstep of one of the part}*, the great moun- 
tain of snow began to move and carry the struggling 
little party with it. Down, down, down they sped. 
faster and faster, until presently the guide cried, " Halt ! 
halt ! " and with almost superhuman energy drove the 
sharp nails of his great boots into the ice, and saved 
his party from the terrible death that awaited them. He 
entered upon his journey well shod, and came off victor- 
So it is in life, if we start out without being shod we are 
in constant danger of being tripped on the many slippery 
places, and carried along until at last we find ourselves 
on the verge of a great precipice, with eternal death star- 
ing us in the face. Oh ! my young friend, how hard it is 
to stop when you once start on the downward grade with- 
out any sharp nails in your shoe heels to hold you ! Take 
unto yourself Christ. " Put on the whole armor of God. 
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the 
devil." For we " wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers 
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wicked- 
ness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the 
whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in 
the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, there- 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 23 

fore, having- your loins girt about with truth, and having 
on the breastplate of righteousness ; and your feet shod 
with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, 
taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to 
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the 
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is 
the word of God." This, my friend, is what is meant 
by beginning life " well shod." This is the only way 
you can ever over-ride the slippery places that Satan will 
throw in your life's pathway ; this is the only remedy 
by which you can be able to stand against " the wiles of 
the devil." And one word more to you that are not thus 
shod : your pathway may become so slippery that it will 
carry you down and over the precipice ere you can secure 
this remedy, and land your soul in eternal death. Such 
cases are numbered by the thousand ; therefore, let me 
entreat you now, to take unto yourselves the means of 
resistance, which lies in your acceptance of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. This alone insures your safety in this 
life, and your immortal soul's safety in the life to come. 

" Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which 
ye are called? — Jas. ii. 7. 

It is said of Alexander the Great, that among his 
army was a soldier named Alexander. One day the 
great general, after noting the slothfulness with which 
the soldier performed his duty, went to him and re- 
quested that he either change his name or become a 
better soldier, and cease to dishonor the name of his 
general. 

Every professed lover and follower of Christ carries 
the name Christian, ofttimes to bring dishonor and 
shame to that name that is " above every name." 

Reader, did it ever occur to you that your actions, 



24 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

your thoughts, your life, bring dishonor to the name of 
Jesus ? 

Do you stop before performing any doubtful deed, and 
consider if the same will honor or dishonor Christ ? 
" He that is not for me, is against me." If your life is 
not for the honor of Christ, it is decidedly against him. 

Oh, that we may more closely guard our lives, our 
thoughts, and our actions, that each will be made to 
glorify Jesus, and leave to the world a monument that 
shall shine through the ages of time. 

He that meditates before performing any act, and asks 
himself the question, "In what will this act glorify 
Christ," will seldom dishonor his Lord. The experience 
of almost every life is to desire to recall many steps in 
the past, and make them straight. The crooked path- 
ways of the past, are, in the majority of instances, made 
on the impulse of the moment, without regard to the 
consequences, and without halting to see if they will 
honor or dishonor God. 



" The Lord also ivill be a refuge in times of trouble" 

Ps. ix. 9. 

In the history of the Israelites, we read of " Eefuge 
Cities " located here and there as the safety of the peo- 
ple demanded. If a man murdered or killed, even acci- 
dentally, a fellow-man, the next kin to the deceased 
could avenge the death of his relative. As a protection, 
these cities of refuge were built, and whenever the 
slayer of a man got inside the walls of one of these 
refuge cities he was safe. His pursuers could come to 
the entrance, but no farther. That moment the gate was 
passed, he was safe. 
. So with the Christian. Satan is daily watching to 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 25 

iiml him outside the city of refuge, which is Christ 
Jesus — and then he pursues his attack, ofttimes result- 
ing- in sin-cess. But, dear reader, Satan never can pass 
the entrance of your Refuge. As long as you live in 
Christ Jesus, his attacks will be fruitless and your safety 
a surety. 

"Make thy fare to shine upon thy servant." 

Ps. cxix. 135. 

Dr. Clemance said, " One clay I was climbing one of 
the Alpine range of mountains, near the boundary line 
between France and Switzerland. By and by we came 
upon snow and icicles, and all the usual attendants in 
the train of winter ; but when we got higher we found 
delightful flowers blooming, in all the beauty of floral 
loveliness. I said to myself, ' how is this ? Down yonder 
are icicles and snow, up here are those exquisite flowers. 
The secret of it was, that this part of the mountain 
faced the sun, while the other was turned from it.'" So 
not unlike this is the change in the heart of him who 
turns from the cold world of sin to the warming rays of 
the Sun of Righteousness, and casts his lot in his service. 

How exquisitely satisfying are the warming rays of that 
Sun whose foundation is the Light of the world. Oh ! 
what a wonderful transposition from the cold, friendless 
world, into the flowery paths leading unto life eternal. 

" God resisteth the proud, Jmt giveth grace unto the 
humble" — Jas. iv. 6. 

An old legend tells of an emperor who won in battle 
from a pagan king the true cross, and with great pomp 
returned to Jerusalem with it. "When he arrived at the 
city's gate, he found it walled up and an angel standing 



26 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

guard. " Thou," said the angel, " bringest back the cross 
with pomp and splendor ; he that died upon it had shame 
and mockery for his companions, and bore it upon his 
bare back, barefooted, to Calvary." Then the emperor 
dismounted, cast off his garments, and barefooted ap- 
proached the gate which swung open, and he passed in. 

Just what amount of truth is embodied in the illus- 
tration it is impossible to say, neither does it concern 
us ; but this we do know, that - God resisteth the proud, 
but giveth grace unto the humble," and delights in their 
pure devotion. Is not a mere glance at the story of the 
cross, the shame it laid upon the Son of God, the humili- 
ation it brought on the King of Heaven, the sorrow and 
anguish it caused him that was God and man. the pain 
he bore, that spake as never man spake. — I ask is not 
this sufficient to incite in us a desire to meekly and 
humbly take up our cross and daily follow him ? 

" Teach me. and I will hold my tongue." — Job vi. 24. 

" The wasp's sting is provided with a barb, and when 
he feels particularly vicious and drives the sting into 
the flesh, it becomes so firmly imbedded that the only 
way for him to escape is to leave the sting behind. 
This, however, is sure to cause his death. He receives 
himself such a wound that he cannot recover. AVe 
sometimes forget that when we hurt others by stinging 
words and treacherous acts, we ourselves, in the long 
run, are generally the greatest sufferers.*' — Dr. Judsox. 

It ofttimes transpires that when Ave dig a pit for 
others to fall into, we ourselves fall into it. The inspired 
penman says, "The tongue can no man tame." Oh! the 
pain and suffering caused by an unguarded tongue. Oh, 
that the pra}- er of Job, " Teach me, and I will hold my 
tongue," and the brief petition of the Psalmist, "Keep 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 27 

my tongue 1 from evil," would daily ascend to the throne 
of grace, that our tongues would be kept from such evil. 

u I the Lord search the heart; I try the veins, even to 
give ever ij man according to his ways, and according to 
the fruit of his doings." — Jek. xvii. 10. 

In Japan the followers of Shinto place in the centre 
of many of their churches a large mirror of the finest 
plate, and gorgeous carvings, designed to represent to the 
worshippers that in like manner as their personal blem- 
ishes are therein displayed, so are their secret evil 
thoughts laid bare by the all-searching eyes of their im- 
mortal gods. 

So the Scriptures teach us to "examine ourselves." 
" For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the 
Lord looketh on the heart."' 

Self-examination, then, should be prominently placed 
upon our list of duties, and we should be careful to 
attend the secret faults, for God knows human nature so 
well that he looks at the seat of secret sins first. 

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth } and scour geth 
every son whom he receivethP — Hkb. xii. 6. 

In Southern Europe grow the larches. When they 
were first introduced into England, the gardeners took it 
for granted that they needed warmth to cause them to 
grow ; so they were placed in the hothouses, and at once 
began to wither and droop. The gardeners became dis- 
gusted, and threw them out of doors. They at once 
began to grow, and became trees of great beauty. So it 
ofttimes becomes necessary for Christ to throw us out of 
doors into the cold of reverses, disappointments, sorrow, 
and pain, that our Christian characters may be developed. 



28 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

It becomes at times necessary that God bring upon us 
sore trials and bereavements that we may be brought 
back to him and his service. God does not willingly 
afflict his people; but in order to bless us it is often 
necessary to put ns in a position to receive and to appre- 
ciate his blessings, though it may be through severe 
trials and galling crosses. 

" So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not 
all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." 

Lvke xiv. 33. 

In the year 1695, Madame Gnyon was, by the order of 
the king, imprisoned in the Castle of Vincennes, on her 
refusal to abandon her religious convictions, and cease to 
preach Christ to her friends. To her brother, who besought 
her to throw off her religion, she wrote, " If your house, 
my dear brother, had been made of precious stones, and 
if I could have been treated and honored in it as a queen, 
yet I should have forsaken all to follow after God." " So 
likewise, whosoever he be of yon that forsaketh not all 
that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." This is the 
kind of service that pleases and honors Christ — a ser- 
vice that costs us something. We are commanded to 
forsake, if necessary, our brightest hopes on earth, our 
dearest friends ; commanded to sever the ties of nature, 
to forsake all, if needs be, to serve our Master. 

" I will make darkness light before them" — Isa. xlii. 16. 

It is said of Cowper. while laboring under the influ- 
ence of mental derangement, he believed that he was 
ordered of God to drown himself in the river Ouse. 
One evening he called for a hackman to drive him to the 
spot. The driver missed his way, and, after wandering 



THE CHBISTIAN LIFE. 29 

about for several hours, admitted that he had lost his 
way. Cowper returned to his home, sat down, and wrote 
that wonderful hymn, " God moves in a Mysterious Way," 
acknowledging his interference with his planned self- 
destruction. 

God's ways are to us, at times, veiled in mystery: 
many time we look upon his rulings as the opposite of 
our needs, but they work out for our good and his glory. 
We oftentimes feel that he is putting upon us a great 
cross when it proves to be a blessing. It is our sweet 
privilege to possess that blessed degree of faith that we 
can say. Come what may, / will cling to my Saviour; 
and. •• though he slay me, yet will I trust him." 

•• (rice and it shall be given unto you; good measure, 
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.'' 

Luke vi. 38. 

A pastor went one day to call on a member of his 
church, who was a farmer. During the conversation the 
work of Christian benevolences was touched upon, and 
the farmer proudly alluded to the fact that out of his few 
acres of ground, he always set aside one acre to the 
Lord's use. The pastor, hoping to here get the material 
for an illustration in his own work, asked the farmer 
brother, "Which acre do you set aside?" This was a 
question that came very unexpectedly, but the farmer 
was honest enough to tell the truth, and replied, "When 
it is a dry season. I select one up there," pointing to a 
field on the hillside; "and when it is a wet season, I 
choose one down there." pointing to a field of very low 
land which lay at the foot of the hill. T give this illus- 
tration not on account of its rarity, but because it is a 
true picture of thousands of professed Christians, who 
give to God's service that part of their time and means 



30 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

that is left, after first satisfying their own personal 
selfish ends. 

God demands of ns the first fruits of our hearts and 
hands. What right, then, have we to strain his words, 
and twist his commands, and make them read, the last, 
and what is left after we have satisfied onr desires ? 

It was said, many years ago, that " what the cause of 
Christ needs is not only converted hearts, bnt converted 
pocket-books." And it is no less true now than ever 
before. Oh, the selfishness of the human heart ! Self ! 
self! self! it cries from morning till night, and from 
night till morning ; and when it enjoys the privilege 
of service for the Master, it cries, Sacrifice ! sacrifice ! 
"Would to God we could learn and realize that all we 
have and are belongs to God, and that the first duty 
enjoined on us is to " Seek first the kingdom of God 
and his righteousness, and all these things shall be 
added."' 

" Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an examjjle, 
that ye should follow his steps." — 1 Peter ii. 21. 

" The great and noble-hearted Livingstone visited his 
native land after an exploring tour ; his friends praised 
him much for the sacrifices he had made. The godly 
man turned to them and said, ' People talk of the sacri- 
fices I have made in spending so large a portion of my 
life in Africa. Can you call that a sacrifice, which is 
only a small payment on the great debt to God, which 
can never be fully discharged ? Say rather that it is a 
privilege ; I have never made a sacrifice.' 

" Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 
that ye should follow his steps.'' 

I doubt very much if the beloved Livingstone real- 
ized what a wonderful truth he had spoken, and while 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 31 

his great true heart throbbed with God's love, the truth 
he uttered was more wonderful than he thought. How 
often do we mistake sacrifices for privileges ? Christ 
says. •• follow me," and though the path may lead through 
places of suffering, he also travelled there, and it is our 
duty as his followers to unflinchingly bear them, and to 
accept them as grand privileges, and not as sacrifices. 
And he that accepts his Christian race as such will real- 
ize that the sufferings and sacrifices of this life are 
nothing to be compared to the glory that shall be 
revealed in him when the race is over, and when he is 
called on to " come up higher." 

•■ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the 
light of the world, he that folio weth me shall not ivalk in 
darkness, but shall hare the light of life/' — Jxo. viii. 12. 

It is said of St. Wenceslaus, a Bohemian king, that one 
bitter cold night, as he was going to his devotions in a 
distant church, his servant Redivivus, barefooted in the 
ice and snow, but who was trying to imitate his master's 
example of piety, fainted on the way. The king bade 
him follow him, and set his feet in the footsteps that he 
would make for him. He found in this a remedy, and 
lie without discomfort followed his master. 

So the blessed Jesus never sends us alone, but says " fol- 
low me," 1 will open up the road and you follow in my foot- 
steps. Some Christians start out to walk alone, and soon 
the stony points of sin lacerate their feet, and they fall 
by the wayside in despair. Friend, Christ never in- 
tended for you to walk alone. If he says go, he says 
also. "Lo, I am with you."' He says follow and place 
your feet in my footsteps, and " I will guide you with 
mine eye." 



32 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

" Train up a child in the way he should go : and when 
he is old lie will not depart from it." — Peov. xxii. 6. 

A man, distinguished for his learning, in an unguarded 
moment took the life of a fellow-man, and, being asked 
why he did such a thing, said, " In my childhood I was 
never taught to obey my parents. I am irritable and 
passionate ; my uncontrollable temper has been the great 
sin of my life. I was an only child of indulgent parents, 
who never required of me the control of my temper. 
The result is I stand before you, a murderer." 

Oh ! loving parents, let not the satanic film grow over 
your eyes and blind you to the neglect of your children's 
early training. Such neglect will not only bring to your 
eyes bitter tears, to your head premature gray hairs, to 
your heart piercing pangs, but when you stand before 
the throne of God Almighty, you will be required to 
answer for such neglect. - Train up a child in the way 
he should go : and when he is old he will not depart 
from it." 

11 Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he 
hath, he cannot be my disciple:' — Luke xiv. 33. 

It is said of Xebridius that he left his native country, 
where he lived in great luxury, forsook friends and kin- 
dred to go into a foreign city to live, in the most ardent 
search after truth and wisdom. 

He forsook all to become a disciple of wisdom. So 
must we do when we take upon ourselves the Lord Jesus 
Christ. TVe must make everything else of a secondary 
nature ; we must give him the first fruits of our hands, 
hearts, and hopes. We must first seek the kingdom of 
God and his righteousness, and these objects of a sec- 
ondary nature will be added unto us. Reader, are you 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 33 

doing this ? If you are, may the Holy Spirit this 
moment help you. If you are not, may the Holy Spirit 
this moment help you to make a resolution from now 
ever more to do so. 

" Thou, hypocrite ! " — Matt. vii. 5. 

A traveller in Russia tells the following of a lady who, 
leaving a party of companions in St. Petersburg, called 
a hack and directed the driver to take her home. In- 
stead of following her directions, he drove her to a 
deserted part of the city, murdered her, and taking her 
jewels, threw her body into the canal. As he returned 
to the city he was hailed by a gentleman who proved to 
be the husband of the murdered lad}', he recognized the 
cloak, and had the murderer arrested. The murdered 
lady had with her a basket of pie ; when asked why he 
did not eat that, the murderer replied, " It was Lent. How 
could I think of eating that, it may contain meat, and I 
am. thank God, a good Christian.'' 

We sometimes express an abhorrence of insignificant 
things when our hearts are set on the vilest of things. 

"No iimn can serve two masters.'''' — Matt. vi. 24. 

I remember when I first left home to seek my fortune 
in the world, I engaged my services to a large mercan- 
tile establishment, and was assigned certain duties. 
The firm consisted of four members. One would come 
to me and say. " You do so and so " — presently, another 
member would come and tell me to do it another way as 
I was wrong, and the third would say — "I fear you can- 
not fill the place, as you are continually performing your 
work wrong and require too much of my time in looking 
after you." Finally, one day I went into the main office 



34 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

and laid my resignation on the desk, fully convinced of 
the truth of our Saviour's words, — " Xo man can serve 
two masters." How many of us to-day are following 
Satan six days and God one. How many of us are let- 
ting the god of this world have the best part of our 
time and talents, and making our service to God Almighty 
a secondary object. " Seek ye first the kingdom of God 
and his righteousness, and all these (lesser) things shall 
be added unto you." " No man can serve two masters." 



"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a 
crown of life. iJ — Rev. ii. 10. 

"It is told of Mr. John Maynard, a well-known and 
God-fearing seaman, that one day his steamer was on fire 
some distance from shore and loaded with a cargo of tar 
and rosin. There was no hope of saving the vessel ; 
the passengers, men, women, and children, were 
crowded to the edge of the forward part of the ship. 
The brave pilot stood firm at his post, surrounded by 
fire and smoke. The captain called through the speak- 
ing tube, ' John Maynard.' 'Ay ay/ responded the brave 
man. 'Head her southeast and run her to shore.' As 
they drew nearer and nearer to shore, the captain again 
called out. ' John Maynard,' ' Ay sir,' came the response 
almost in a smothered voice. 'Can you hold on five 
minutes longer?' 'By God's help I will.' The brave 
man stood at his post until the vessel reached shore and 
every passenger safely landed, while he perished at the 
wheel, though faithful unto death." Oh what grand re- 
ward Christ offers those that remain faithful unto death, 
Oh, the glory in a crown of life ! 

One day, one of the pupils of that eminent German 
scholar, Bengel. wished to know how his teacher prayed. 



THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 35 

So he followed him that evening to learn what proved to 
him to be a lifelong lesson. 

The godly Bengel, after spending several hours in 
studying and meditating upon God's word, quietly folded 
his hands, and as if looking up into the very face of 
Christ, said, •• Lord Jesus, thou knowest me ; we are on 
the very same old terms," and his weary eyes closed in 
sleep. 

How much lighter would life's cares be, how much 
more fruitful would our lives be, how much happier would 
our hearts be. and how much more pleasing would our 
service be. if we would only learn to sink deep into the 
rich storehouse of God's Word and approach Christ in 
the familiar terms a constant communion insures. 

If we would rightly follow Christ, we must make 
Christ our intimate friend, and out of this intimacy will 
bloom a dee]), ardent love that will shine in our lives to 
the glory and honor of his name, and the salvation of 
souls. The two go hand in hand and cannot be separated, 
for the love of Christ cannot be imprisoned in so small a 
space as the human heart, but will shine out and touch 
others. 



CHAPTER II. 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 



'IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY.' 

Psalm xvi : 11. 



37 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 



" Though I 'walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death I will fear no evil, for thou art with vie: thy rod 
and thy staff they comfort me." — Ps. xxiii. 4. 

The case of Charles the First beautifully illustrates the 
Christian's blessed trust in the hour of death, and his 
fearlessness in facing its dreaded hand. It is said that 
when lie lay in his cell he could clearly see the workmen 
preparing the scaffold upon which he was condemned to 
die, each stroke of the hammer could be distinctly heard, 
yet these combined could neither interrupt his conversa- 
tion by day nor disturb his sleep at night. On the morn- 
ing of his execution he arose at dawn, and bade his 
attendant exercise unusual care in the arrangement of 
his dress, befitting, as he termed it, such a great and 
happy solemnity — the close of his earthly sorrows and 
the beginning of his eternal bliss. He knelt and com- 
mitted his soul to God ; with a brave step he ascended 
the scaffold, saying, " I will soon be tenderly wafted to 
the Great Judge." 

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time 
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall 
be revealed in its." — Rom. viii. 18. 

Margaret Wilson, a young lady of eighteen, living in 
Wigtown. Scotland, was cruelly condemned by James II. 
to be drowned for her faith in Christ. She was taken to 

39 



40 TRUST IN CHRIST. 

the seashore and tied to a stake so that the rising tide 
would slowly overflow her, and give her an opportunity 
to recant her faith. Calmly she awaited the approaching 
tide. Some one asked her if she had any fears of the 
future. She calmly replied, "Christ is my stay." As 
the waves came up to her mouth she repeated these lines : 
"'For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor 
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, 
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other 
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time 
of need" — Heb. iv. 16. 

An old Scotchman was one day on his way to some 
mission week services. The old pilgrim was poor and 
ill clad, and partially deaf, but he trusted in the Lord 
whom he served, and rejoiced in his kind providence. On 
his way to the meeting he fell in with another Christian 
brother ; a younger man, bound on the same errand, and 
they travelled on together. When they had nearly 
reached the place of meeting it was proposed that they 
should turn aside and have a little prayer. They did so, 
and the old man, who had learned in everything to let 
his requests be known unto God, presented his case in 
language like this : " Lord, ye ken weel enough that 
I'm deaf and that I want a seat on the first bench if ye 
can let me have it, so that I can hear thy word ; and ye 
see that my toes are sticking through my shoes, and 
therefore I want ye to get me a pair of new ones ; and 
ye ken I have nae siller, and I want to stay during the 
meetings, and therefore I want ye to get me a place to 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 41 

stay." When the little outdoor prayer-meeting was fin- 
ished, the two Christians arose and resumed their jour- 
ney. As they walked along, the young brother said to 
the Scotchman that he thought his prayer hardly so 
reverential as seemed proper in approaching the Supreme 
Being. "Why, my son," said the Scotchman. "He's 
my Father, and weel acquainted with me, and I take 
great liberties with him." They soon arrived at the 
church in which the meetings were to be held, and the 
old Scotchman took a position in the rear of the church, 
and placed his ear trumpet to catch the words of the 
speaker : pretty soon a gentleman motioned him to come 
forward and occupy the front pew where he could better 
hear. At the close of the service a lady noticed his 
ragged shoes, and asked him if they were the best ones 
he had. " Yes," said he, " but I expect my Father will 
get me a new pair soon." — " Come with me," said the 
lady, " and I will get you a new pair." — " Shall you stay 
to the end of the meeting," asked a Christian lady. " I 
would," said the Scotchman, " but I am a stranger here, 
and have nae siller." — "You shall be made welcome at 
my house," said the good lady. The old man thanked 
the Lord that he had given him all that he had asked 
for; and while his younger brother's reverence for the 
Lord was right and proper, it is possible that he might 
have learned that there is a reverence that reaches higher 
than the forms and conventionalities of human taste, and 
which leads the believer to come boldly to the throne of 
grace, and to find all needed help in every trying hour." 
— Selected. 

" There is no fear in love." — 1 Jno. iv. 18. 

A little girl lay dying, surrounded by loving parents and 
friends, who readily saw that the fair bloom was fast 



42 TRUST IN CUBIST 

withering, and as the bereaved hearts watched the beau- 
tiful light going out, she looked up, and said, "Papa, 
mamma, why do you cry so, I am not afraid, what can 
harm me ? Jesus has hold of my hand — fear is all 
gone." She passed away, her love to Christ had con- 
quered the dread of the cold-handed messenger of 
death. 

Reader, this is a scene through which you and I must 
pass — have you that sweet trust in Christ that dispels all 
fear for that trying moment ? and makes you cry out, " Oh 
death ! where is thy sting ? oh grave ! where is thy 
victory ? " 

Have you any assurance that when such a time comes, 
you will have his arm to support you ? 

"In thy presence is fulness of joy.'' 1 — Ps. xvi. 11. 

A gentleman riding abroad one day perceived a hare, 
hunted almost to death, running toward him, and crouched 
betwixt the legs of his horse ; he dismounted, and took 
the poor frightened and fatigued creature in his arms, 
where it laid its head, and ceased to tremble with fear ; 
but, rather, it showed fulness of joy in finding a rescuer. 
— Cyclo. Bible III. 

So it is with us : we may sometimes wander away 
from Christ, and try to struggle against old Satan, who is 
watching us ; but the moment we turn to the Saviour^ 
our pursuer stops, and he gently takes us in his strong 
arms, and cares for us. Reader, can you trust him ? 
Are you trusting him ? Would that I could impress 
upon you the importance of this trust. Rest assured 
you will be attacked by the evil one, and can never resist 
him in your own strength, but simpl}* in the strength 
Christ will give you of his own fulness. 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 43 

•• The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" 

Ps. xxv. 14. 
There is a safe and secret place, 

Beneath the wings divine, 
Reserved for all the heirs of grace ; 
Oh, be that refuge mine ! 

The least and feeblest there may bide, 

Uninjured and una wed; 
While thousands fall on every side, 

He rests secure in God. 

He feeds in pastures large and fair 

Of love and truth divine ; 
child of God ! glory's heir ! 

How rich a lot is thine ! 

A hand almighty to defend ; 

An ear for every call ; 
An honored life, a peaceful end, 

And heaven to crown it all ! 

Ch ristian Worker. 

"For I trust in thy word." — Ps. cxix. 42. 

A poor man, depending on his daily labor for food to 
supply the needs of his large family, found it necessary 
to go to the city, some miles from his home, to find 
employment. 

He came home on Saturday evening, and went away 
early the following Monday morning. His custom was 
to bring home his weekly earnings every Saturday even- 
ing, which went to the support of his family until his 
return. One Saturday his employer told him that, owing 
to his inability to collect some outstanding debts, he was 



44 TRUST IN CHRIST. 

unable to pay him his wages that day. The poor man 
well knew what embarrassment this' would cause him, 
but he saw it was useless to press his claim. As usual, 
he went home, and found the children all neatly clad in 
their clean garments, and the faithful wife busily engaged 
in preparing for the evening meal, which she expected 
her husband to purchase on his way home. With tears 
in his eyes he told his wife that he had failed to collect 
his earnings, as usual, and that he did not know what to 
do. They knelt down, and laid their case before the 
" Giver of every good and perfect gift," and sought His 
aid. Hardly had their prayer ended before a sharp rap 
was heard at the door. The father opened it, and a kind 
lady handed them a large loaf of bread, saying she had 
made a greater quantity than she could use, and thought 
it would be acceptable to them. Again they fell on their 
knees, and thanked God for his deliverance. When the 
meal was finished, the father went to some friends, and 
stated his case. They secured a week's supplies at the 
store, and promised to see that his family did not suffer 
in his absence. 

God promises us his care : his word is unchanging. 
May we not then learn to trust him more fully — wholly 
rely on his word, so fraught with precious promises ? 

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able 
to stand against the wiles of the devil.'''' — Eph. vi. 11. 

It is said of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he was 
passing along the highway one day, he met a boy with a 
bird, to which he had tied a cord. The bird was trying 
to fly away to its freedom, but, when it got a little way 
in the air, the boy would pull the cord, and drag it back. 

So it ofttimes befalls Christians, who attempt to walk 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 45 

alone. When they think they are progressing fairly 
well. Satan draws the cord, and they find themselves at 
the point of starting. Not so with him who starts out 
trusting solely in the blessed Christ for help. The cord 
is cut asunder, and he is " free indeed." My friend, the 
Christian warfare is a happy warfare, when we enter it 
properly armed. Victory is certain, when we set out 
with the armor that God has provided. On the other 
hand, it is a continual struggle, resulting in frequent 
defeats, because our human forces are inadequate to 
resist the mighty forces of Satan. This one point I 
would press upon you in starting out : Put on the 
" "Whole armour of God," and simply trust him to guide 
you. 

" Take unto you the ivhole armour of God" 

Eph. vi. 13. 

We are told that the mother of Achilles dipped him, 
when an infant, in the river Styx to prevent danger that 
might ensue by reason of the Trojan war. His enemies 
having learned that he was invulnerable in every part of 
his body, except his heel, where his mother held him 
while dipping him, took advantage of this information, 
and shot him in the heel, killing him instantly. 

So with Christians : unless we are wholly covered 
with the cloak of Christ's love, Satan will find our 
unprotected part, and attack us there. W T hen we make 
Christ our all, then we are safe : for he that is for us is 
greater than he that is against us. 

11 He leadeth me." — Ps. xxiii. 2. 
It is said of the Rev. Mr. Needham that he and his 
wife were once landed in a strange city, without money 
or friends. They refused to go to a hotel and order 



46 TRUST IN CHBIST. 

accommodations without the means of paying for it. 
They walked the streets and prayed, expecting the Lord 
to open up the way for them. As they were slowly 
walking along, a gentleman who knew Mr. Xeedham. and 
had heard him deliver one of his stirring discourses, met 
him and invited him to spend the night with him at the 
hotel. The pressing invitation was,accepted without the 
kind man ever knowing his friend's circumstances. Oh, 
the sweet trust in the adorable Lord ! Oh, that we each 
had more to ease life's burdens ! " Cast your care upon 
him, for he careth for you,"' is a lesson, though simple, 
yet how hard for weak mortals to learn. 

"Because thou hast made the Lord . . . thy habitation ; 
there shall no evil befell thee, neither shall any plague 
come nigh thy dwelling : for he shall give his angels charge 
over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." — Ps. xci. 9-11. 

" A lady in England told the following illustration of 
the blessedness of having Jesus Christ betwixt us and 
danger. She said, ' I was weary with the cares of the 
day, and went to my chamber to gain a much-needed 
rest ; I laid down on my bed, and was soon fast asleep. 
My rest was disturbed by a continual tapping on the 
window pane, which so annoyed me I got up and went 
to the window to see what it meant. I saw a butterfly 
flying back and forth on the inside of the window, and, 
outside, a sparrow pecking and trying to get inside. The 
butterfly did not see the glass, and expected every 
moment to be devoured b} r the sparrow. The sparrow, 
too, did not see the window glass, and expected to get 
the butterfly for its dinner. ' n 

And so it may be likened of the Child of God who 
puts Christ between him and danger. So far can come 



TRUST TN CHRIST. 47 

the evil designer, and no farther. In the shadow of thy 

wings will T hide, saith the Christ-loving soul, and the 
gentle answer comes back, " I will deliver thee." " In 
the day of trouble," saith the trusting soul, " I will call 
upon thee.*' " I am a very present help in time of 
trouble," comes the reply. " Deliver me from the 
enemy.'' " Because thou hast made the Lord thy habita- 
tion, there shall no evil befall thee." Oh, that we could 
more fully learn to put Christ between us and everything 
else ; how much lighter life's burdens ! how much easier 
would grow the cares of life ! how much stronger our 
faith ! how much plainer the road to eternal glory ! how 
much brighter the dark valley of death when we are 
holding on to Christ with all our might, mind, soul, and 
strength ! 

" My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they fol- 
low me. And I give unto them eternal life : and they shall 
nerer perish ; neither shall any man pluck them out of my 
hand." — Jho. x. 27, 28. 

A gentleman who has travelled in the East tells us 
that about the hour of noon he halted at one of the wells 
to watch the shepherds water their flocks. They assem- 
bled and drew water, not each for his own flock, but in 
common, they drew until enough was drawn. Then the 
shepherd would lead the way, and call to his sheep to 
follow him ; they knew the voice of their master, and 
followed after him. The gentleman asked one of the 
shepherds to let him put on his mantle and take his 
crook, when he would call out to the sheep to follow 
him ; the shepherd gave his consent, and when the gen- 
tleman called to the flock to follow him, they turned and 
ran from him, and only when they heard the true shep- 
herd's voice did they follow. 



48 TRUST IX CHRIST. 

The true child of God knows the voice of his master, 
and at his loving call follows after him. Strange voices 
will he not follow, but fleeth away, and so too the Great 
Shepherd knows his sheep, and with his unerring eye he 
ever watches over them, and no power can pluck one of 
them out of his strong hand. Though a thousand forces 
assail him. he fears no evil, for in the hollow of the great 
shepherd's hand he is hid. The ungodly are not so, for 
they wander about on the bleak desert of sin, and are 
hunted down by the evil one. pressed hard by the enemy, 
and in despair they yield to his power. Blessed is he 
that trusteth in the Lord. Is he thy trust, oh, thou 
soul that readest these words ? 

" The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of 
temjjtations." — 2 Petek ii. 9. 

It is related of Augustine that, as he was journeying 
to a certain city to teach the people, he took a guide with 
him to point out the way. The guide took him out of 
the usual road, and along a bj^-path, by which means he 
escaped death at the hands of the blood}' Donatist, who, 
knowing his intentions, waylaid him to kill him. 
" Blessed is he that trusteth in the Lord." The same 
shall be delivered from the hands of the enemy, and all 
the fiery trials of the evil one. 

" He that believeth . . . shall be saved" — Mark. xvi. 16. 

During a severe storm at sea, it seemed that the vessel 
could last but little longer, and that the precious cargo 
of human freight would soon find their graves in the 
raging billows. The waves were already coining over 
the deck, and passengers were rushing hither and thither, 
wringing their hands and weeping, each one expecting 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 49 

every moment to be their last. In their midst sat a 
young man. who unconcernedly watched the mad waves 
as they dashed against the vessel. Some of the passen- 
gers asked him how he could be so calm in such an hour, 
when his life hung by a very slender cord; he replied, 
•• I feel no fear whatever ; why should I ? My father 
is commanding the vessel, and he knows what he is 
doing. I trust him — he will bring us through safely." 
Fellow-traveller, when danger, trouble, disaster, and 
reverses overtake you, how much easier it will be to 
trust all to our Heavenly Father. " Though he slay me, 
yet will I trust in him." 

u For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of 
meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail." 

1 Kings xvii. 14. 

a A poor prisoner, confined for the causes of Christ, 
was given only bread and water to eat and drink. When 
ridiculed because she had no meat, she replied, ' If you 
take away my meat, I will trust God to take away my 
hunger.' " ; Happy trust in him who hath said, " I will 
never leave thee nor forsake thee." How easy self-denial 
would become, did we but exercise such simple trust in 
Christ to remove the desire far from us. 

"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, 
and ivere destroyed of the destroyer." — 1 Cor. x. 10. 

" A man carrying a valise filled with money was over- 
taken by a severe rain storm, which caused him to com- 
plain bitterly of the weather. Reaching a forest, a 
robber waylaid him and attempted to shoot him, but 
the rain had dampened the powder, and his gun 
missed fire. 'How wrong was I,' said the man, k in 



50 TRUST IX CHRIST. 

not patiently enduring the rain sent by Providence, 
which saved my life and property/' " 

How often we are found murmuring and upbraiding 
God, for what seems to our human minds a great afflic- 
tion, but which proves to be a real blessing in disguise. 

Oh, that our trust in God was more complete, and that 
we could learn to commit our ways unto him and be will- 
ing to say at all times, " Thy will be done." " Though 
he slay me yet will I trust in him." 



"lean do all tilings through Christ, which strengthen- 
eth me." — Phil. iv. 13. 

When the illustrious Oliver Cromwell lay upon his 
death bed, he rejoiced that, although he had been a man 
of war, the strong arm of Christ had reached out and 
had drawn his heart into a penitent faith in the Ee- 
deemer. He requested his wife to read to him Paul's 
letter to the Philippians. When she came to the Avords, 
" I can do all things through Christ," the dying man ex- 
claimed. " Oh ! St. Paul, you are entitled to speak thus, 
and he who is your Saviour shall also be my Saviour too. 
Oh ! what love ; to descend so low and take hold of the 
hand of such a mortal as I." 

After a brief prayer for those about him, the great man 
said, "I pass to my Father." 

" I can do all things through Christ, which strengthen- 
ed me," and " Without me ye can do nothing." Would to 
God that you, and that I, reader, would learn to " go in 
the strength of the Lord God." Would that I could learn 
to regard not the strength of my puny, Aveak self, and 
learn that "through Christ I can do all things." Oh, 
Avhat remorse and soitoav our OAvn efforts often bring us, 
because Ave try to do too much in proportion to our 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 51 

strength and often end in miserable, humiliating failure. 
Not so with him " who goes in the strength of the Lord 
God," for then •• he can do all things through Christ." 
Our Saviour delights to have us seek his aid even in tem- 
poral, as well as in spiritual things, and is ever ready to 
bless us and cause the guiding rays of his light to shine 
upon us, and direet ns in our daily cares. 

•• Examine yourselves : whether ye be in the faith.' 1 '' 

2 Cor. xiii. 5. 

Sextus had a custom which every Christian would do 
well to follow, and which when rightly considered, teaches 
an important truth. He asked himself, every night 
before closing his eyes in sleep, " What evil hast thou 
done this day ? what wrong hast thou amended ? what 
vice hast thou shunned ? what good hast thou done ? In 
what part art thou bettered ? " 

How much easier would life's burdens grow, how much 
lighter the cares of life would be, how much worry and 
vexation of heart would we save, did we but daily exam- 
ine our lives and profit by our experiences, and not be 
burdened with our past sins and shortcomings. Happy 
is he who lays the weight of his load of misgivings on 
Him who so graciously invites us to " Cast all our care 
upon Him, for He careth for you (us)." 



" Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, 
in necessities, in 2wrsenttio)is, in distresses for Christ's 
sake ; for when I am weak thru am I strong ." 

2 Con. xii. 10. 

John Huss, the martyr, for his opposition to the 
errors of Rome, and his unceasing efforts to revive 



52 TRUST IX CHRIST. 

Christianity, was sentenced to be burned. Surrounded 
by eight hundred soldiers, he was led to a small meadow 
as the place of execution. When he came to the stake 
he turned his face toward heaven and prayed. " Into thy 
hands, oh Lord, I commit my spirit ; thou hast redeemed 
me ; assist me with a firm mind, by thy most powerful 
grace, that I may undergo this most awful death, to 
which I am condemned for preaching thy most holy gos- 
pel, — amen ! " Bundles of straw and wood were placed 
about him ; a heavy chain was put upon his neck, he 
said, " Welcome this chain for Christ's sake,-' and as the 
flames leaped around him he sang a hymn with a loud 
voice. 

Such is the power of Christ, in the heart of the true 
trusting Christian, that lie will glory in the persecutions 
and reproaches of man, for when the strength of human 
nature can no longer bear us up, Christ makes us able 
and willing to endure them, and we come out of the fiery 
trials, strong in the Lord. 

"Fear not them which hill the hod;/, hut are not able to 
kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy 
both soul and body in hell. — Matt, x. 28. 

AYhen Queen Mary of Scotland was crowned, in order 
to gain more power with the classes which exercised 
the greater influence, and to show her attachment 
for the cause of the Pope, she ordered that the Calvinist. 
Anne du Bourg, an heroic adherent to the Protestant 
faith, be executed. When the eventful day arrived, she 
bravely ascended the scaffold, and in a gentle but clear 
voice, said, " Six feet of earth for my body, and the in- 
finite joy of heaven for my soul, is what I shall soon 
have." What more could mortal crave, than the last 
part of the utterance of brave. Christian Anne du Bourg ? 



TRUST IN CHRIST. 53 

•• Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you." 

1 Pet. v. 7. 
Payson, on his death bed, said to his daughter, " My 
child, you will avoid much pain, care, and anxiety if you 
will early learn to trust your every concern into the 
hands of God." 

Fellow Christian, why all this fretting ? why all this 
anxiety ? why all this disquietude ? why all this concern ? 
why all this solicitude about the petty cares and trials 
of life ? " Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for 
you." 

Even the very hairs of your head are numbered ; your 
heavenly Father knoweth your every care, your sym- 
pathizing Saviour knoweth your every anxiety, and with 
a pitying eye looks down on you, and says, " Oh, thou of 
little faith," " Call upon ME in the day of trouble and / 
will deliver thee." 

"Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain 
thee." 

" Have we trials and temptations, 
Is there trouble anywhere, 
Are we weak and heavy laden, 
Take it to the Lord in prayer." 

" Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" 

Job. xiii. 15. 

A gentleman passing a poor beggar that sat by the 
wayside, said to him, " Good morrow, my poor man." " I 
never had a bad morrow," replied the beggar. " You are 
a poor miserable man, nearly naked, no friends to help 
you, still you tell me you never had a bad morrow." 

" I'll tell you," said the beggar, " whether I am sick 
or well, cold or warm, clothed or naked, fed or hungry, I 
bless God for all." 



54 TRUST IN CHRIST. 

"But friend," said the gentleman, "what if Christ 
should cast thee to hell ? " " If he should, I would be 
content ; I have two arms, the one of faith, the other of 
love ; I would lay such hold on Christ that I would have 
him with me, and wherever he is, there will be heaven." 

" Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Happy 
state is that which can make the child of God, through 
his great faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, say, Come 
whatsoever will, God is my refuge and my stay. I will 
trust him in all things. "Though he slay me. yet will 
I trust in him ; " — though he take all my worldly pos- 
sessions, still will I cling to him; — though he deprive 
me of my loved ones, yet will I hold fast his precious 
promises to again meet them in the glorious reunion of 
heaven ; — though he take my health from me and cause 
me to languish on beds of sickness, yet will I pour out 
my heart to him in praise and thanksgiving : — though he 
make my heart to sorrow and be sad, I plead his own 
promise, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall 
be comforted " ; — though he take my very life, I shall 
trust his guiding hand to lead me " through the valley of 
the shadow of death, and I will fear no evil." 



CHAPTER III. 



STAGNANT POOLS. 



"WELLS without water." 

2 Pet. ii. 17. 



55 



STAGNANT POOLS. 



" And when he came to it, lie found nothing but leaves." 

Mark xi. 13. 

In my father's orchard stood a large and beautiful 
apple tree, and one to which he had devoted a great deal 
of attention; he spared no pains to make its growth 
thrifty, expecting to reap a bountiful harvest of fruit. 
At harvest time he went through the orchard gathering 
the fruit, and when he came to this tree he found it 
fruitless. 

He pruned it again and gave it extra care, expecting 
the next autumn to find it laden with fruit. Imagine his 
chagrin when he went to it and found "nothing but 
leaves." 

Xot yet caring to give up such a promising tree; he cul- 
tivated it with care the third time, only to reap as before 
a harvest of " nothing but leaves." He ordered it taken 
out root and branch, and hauled to the woodyard and 
burned with the refuse sticks that had been gathered from 
time to time. 

Christian friend, how is it with you ? Are you among 
the number that have long trespassed upon the patience 
of the living God, and bear " nothing but leaves ? " Take 
these words of Christ to your heart, "Every tree that 
bringeth not forth fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into 
the fire." How cowardly the thought to take only so 
much of Christ into our lives as will barely land us into 

57 



58 STAGNANT POOLS. 

heaven. How painful the sentence will be when Christ 
comes, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground ? " 

u I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. 
I would that thou wert cold or hot." — Rev. iii. 15. 
" I will kindle afire in thee." — Ezek. xx. 47. 

An old Scottish doctor got on board a train one day, 
and became very fidgety because the train did not start. 
"What is the matter," he said, "isn't there plenty of 
water ? " — " Oh yes," some one replied, " there's plenty 
of water, but it isn't boiling." 

This is the trouble with a great many professing 
Christians, they have plenty of water, but it is kept too 
far from Christ's love to make it boil. How many thou- 
sand Christians to-day are idle because they have no 
motive power to propel them ; they are so far from Christ 
that there is no fire to heat the water and produce steam 
to move them in Christian work. Oh! thou cold soul, 
fall on thy knees and plead the promises of thy God to 
kindle a fire in thee, and move thee to Christian duty. 
" Rescue the perishing " that are on the right and left, 
crying, " What must I do to be saved ? " 

"Freely ye have received, freely give." — Matt. x. 8. 

On my father's farm was a pond or lake by which I had 
occasion to frequently pass. During several months of 
the year the surface was covered with a greenish sub- 
stance which produced an unwholesome odor. The birds 
cast not their feathery forms in it to bathe. The fishes 
seemed not at home in its impure depths. Much of the 
sickness of the vicinity was attributed to this stagnant 
pool. During the rainy spring season the swollen stream 



STAGNANT POOLS. 59 

near by would flow into it, and for a time it would be 
again pure 1 , and so long as the water flowed through it, 
was as clear and cool as oilier streams. 

Not unlike this pool is the Christian who takes in the 
love of Christ and never lets it out. He only, is a success- 
ful and true Christian who allows the stream of Christ's 
love to flow into his heart, and he sends it forth again 
unto some other heart. And in order to retain true 
Christianity we must pay as much attention to the outlet 
as we do to the inlet of our hearts, or in order to be pure 
we need to let the stream of God's love flow through our 
hearts constantly. The heart is a little member, and if 
we bar the outlet what little love it is capable of holding 
becomes stagnate, and Ave become a misery to ourselves 
and a stumbling block to others. 

Oh, thou sin-cleansed heart ! open wide thy doors and 
let the river of Christ's love flow through thy domains, 
and on to thy neighbor. 

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immove- 
able, always abounding in the work of the Lord" 

1 Cor. xv. 58. 

On my father's farm was a field, one part of which was 
on the hillside, while the other part lay in the level val- 
ley below. That portion in the valley never failed to 
produce a bountiful yield ; while it was necessary each 
season, before seeding, to apply fertilizers to make the 
hillside yield any crop. When the showers came, the 
nutriment would wash to the valley below. 

How truly this represents Christians. While one class 
is " always abounding in the work of the Lord," the other 
class sit still and wait for the annual revival to stir them 
up to the proper spiritual point of work. Eleven months 



60 STAGXAXT POOLS. 

of the year the}" sit idle, and the showers of heavenly 
blessings pass by them, and they must be themselves 
preached back to the kingdom of spiritual working grace 
before they can work with sinners. Christ's intention 
in establishing the beautiful Christian religion was to 
make it a religion of everyday life, and not a fitful, peri- 
odical religion. We are to "take up our cross daily and 
follow him." 

The one that makes the best Christian character is he 
who lives eveiy moment so near to Christ that Satan has 
no chance to put in a word and ensnare him in his web 
of temptations too strong for human nature to resist. 

Eeader, art thou a periodical Christian ? You are 
poorly honoring him whom you profess to love, and who 
you confess has taken away the guilt of a sinful heart 
and saved you from eternal doom. 

"All unrighteousness is sin." — 1 Jxo. v. 17. 

A company of ladies and gentlemen went one day to 
view the destruction of property a swollen stream was 
making. 

As they stood there, and watched the rapid torrent, 
they saw three little girls playing near by. each trying 
to see how near the edge of a high bank they could go, 
and not fall into the raging waters below. Presently a 
cry of distress was heard : looking over the steep bank, 
they saw one of the little girls being carried down by 
the rapid stream. 

Just so with a great many Christians : they try to see 
how near the world they can live, and still be safe. 
They seem to try to live just near enough to Christ to 
squeeze in at heaven's gate at the end. A very danger- 
ous ground, indeed, on which to rest a hope of eternal 



STAGNANT POOLS. 61 

life. A very low estimation to place upon the religion 
of Christ. Would it not, my friend, be wiser to serve 
him from a sense of love to him in giving his life for us ? 



"Tell tlw in how great things the Lord hath done for 
thee." — Mark v. 19. 

The question was asked not long since, why the Dead 
Sea took the name it bears. 

Among the answers, one advanced a very appropriate 
one : " because it is always receiving, and never letting 
out/' or because it has an inlet and no outlet. Water to 
be pure must be kept flowing ; stagnant pools are those 
that have no outlet. Xo one can be a Christian, and live 
all to himself. The love of Christ cannot be kept pent 
up. When it enters a heart, it makes that heart active, 
and anxious to tell others of its wondrous joy. 

" From me is thy fruit found." — Hos. xiv. 8. 

It is said of the olive tree that it enriches the soil 
upon which it feeds ; while the stately sycamore draws 
sustenance therefrom, and gives nothing in return. 

So there are two classes of men: while one class 
strive to serve the Hand that created them, the other 
recognizes not such a power, but lives solely for that 
which renders momentary pleasure. Oh, that we all 
could recognize that " every good gift and every perfect 
gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father." 

"By their fruits ye shall know them." — Matt. vii. 20. 
In Palestine there is a counterfeit olive tree, called the 
wild olive, or oleaster. It is in every way like the genu- 
ine olive, with one exception : it bears no fruit. Mr. 



62 STAGNANT POOLS. 

Bowes says, " When I see a man taking up a large space 
in Christ's spiritual orchard, and absorbing a vast deal of 
sunlight and soil, and yielding no real fruit, I say, " Ah, 
there is an oleaster ! " 

There is a certain class of professed followers of 
Christ who bear a very striking resemblance to the 
oleaster, but " by their fruits ye shall know them." 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN IN- 
FLUENCE. 



Jno. xv. 27. 



63 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN 
INFLUENCE. 



" We are his witnesses" — Acts v. 32. 

The sweet gospel singer, Mr. Peter Bilhorn of Chi- 
cago, who was at one time a well-known saloon concert 
singer, was passing by a gospel service a few years ago. 
"When he came opposite to the gathering of Christians, 
the testimony of a young man, " Christ saves the worst 
of sinners," fastened itself on his heart, and led him to 
Christ. 

He never saw the young man afterward — never has 
been able to find him, but his words so came home to him 
that he changed his course, and is now devoting his life 
to God's service. 

Oh ! the power of a life that is not ashamed to make 
Christ known to the world. How beautiful the feet of 
them that never tire of witnessing before the world the 
riches of eternal life in Christ Jesus ! What glory 
awaits the soul that daily walks so near to Christ that 
others see Christ through him ! 

" For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by 
thy blood." — Rev. v. 9. 

" A little girl of eight years was sent on an errand by 
her parents. On her way she was attracted by the sing- 
ing at a Gospel meeting in the open air, and drew near. 
The conductor of the meeting was so struck with the 

65 



QQ THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN IXFLUEXCE. 

child's earnestness that he spoke to her and told her 
about Jesus. "When she returned home her father asked 
her what had detained her. She looked up in his face 
and told him where she had been ; he beat her, and for- 
bade her ever again going to such a place. 

Some weeks later she was sent on another errand ; she 
passed the same spot and saw the samp gentleman, who 
again told her of Jesus. She became so deeply in earn- 
est that she quite forgot her errand, and. returning 
home, told her father that she had forgotten what she 
was sent to bring, but that she had brought Jesus. The 
enraged father kicked and beat the poor little creature 
until the blood trickled down her face and fell upon her 
dress. She was put to bed by her kind mother, never to 
recover from her father's ill treatment. Just before she 
died, she called her mother and said, ■' Mamma, I have 
been praying to Jesus to save you and papa. 3 Then, 
pointing to the dress, she said. •' Mamma, cut me a bit 
out of the blood-stained part.' The mother did so. 
' Xow,' said the dying child, ' Christ shed his blood for 
my sake, and I am going to take this to Jesus to show 
him that I shed my blood for his sake.' The trusting 
child passed away, not, however, before she had sown 
the seed that in after years ripened into the fruit of sal- 
vation to her father and mother." — Selected. 

Reader, what are you doing for him who shed his 
blood to redeem you to God and life eternal ? 

Does his love fire your heart, and send you to lost men 
and lead them to him ? 

" ITlt'/f ye hear in the ear. that preach ye upon the 
housetops:' — Matt. x. 2~. 

A poor, ignorant man became converted, and was in 
the habit of holding religious meetings in the loft of an 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 67 

old barn. Prince Albert, the husband of England's 
queen, chanced to hear one of the rude discourses, which 
so opened the avenues of his heart that it afterwards led 
him to Christ. 

Simply the result of telling of Christ's love, and what 
he has done for us. And simply the duty of every pro- 
fessing Christian. And simply a duty that is neglected 
more than almost any other by Christians. 

The moment we take Christ as our Saviour, that 
moment our duty as preachers of Christ begins, and he 
only does his duty who makes use of every opportunity 
to preach Christ to those around him. Testify of his 
love, confess his saving power, and seek to draw men 
unto him. 

" Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye 
separate, saith the Lord." — 2 Cor. vi. 17. 

A Christian Chinaman, paying a visit to our country, 
at once noticed the nearness to the world to which many 
professing Christians were living. Later on, when 
alluding to the matter, he said, "When the disciples 
in my country come out from the world, they come 
clear out." 

It is a low estimation of Christianity we possess who 
try how near to the world Ave can live and yet be 
Christians. We are commanded to come out and be sep- 
arate from the world when we take upon ourselves the 
duties of a Christian. Furthermore, we cannot rightly 
serve God and yet love and cling to the frivolities of the 
world ; but our lives should so shine with the illumina- 
tion of the light of Christ's love that the world would 
not have to examine us closely to see if we were Chris- 
tians. The true Christian reflects the light of Christ in 
his daily walk in life, and never finds it necessary to go 



THE F ~i:B OF CITRTSTUJr UTFL UXB £ 

through the world sounding a trumpet and erring out* 
• A Christian ! a Christian ! ** One question that is 
r:i_-::i_-- ~k- i. l_- :- •- •--■ : "-"7 '"' " "' ■~~ : -'---:;'- 
meant for my good, and that is. if I am a Christian ? 
Oh, I do so want to reflect Christ in my life that wher- 
ever I go I may hear on my right and on my left, u there 
goes a Christian^ 

Friend, it is well to remember that the eye of the 
world is constantly upon us, and that our crooked paths 
are noticed far and near; the voice of the world cries out, 
-Hypocrisy! hypocrisy!^ and unbelief forges another 
link in its strong chain. -We ought also so to walk even 

And eeerg one that hath forsake* houses, or hrtthren. 
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or 
lands, for my name's sake, shall reeeiee an hundredfold, 
and shall inherit everlasting life. — Matt. xix. 29. 

A wealthy infidel had a lovely daughter, on whose edu- 
cation he had bestowed much care and pains. The 
father was attending a session of the legislature, of 
-'-.. 1 It -- -: Lz. L:- •-- - :_r ".-■".'..--: 

stole away and attended a revival service, held in the 
— "__;.. r -r : — ~ '—:'- ~-r~ l:~-rl I_- - _::: :— ". z^: :■: ?. 
true sense of her lost condition, and she wept aloud. 
Going home, she told her mother all She became very 
angry, and said, -Just wait till your father comes home.* 7 
The next evening she went again to the house of God, 
and found that sweet peace of Christ. Word reached 
the father that his daughter had professed Christianity, 
and he hastened home. The daughter met him at the 
gate. As she ran to him to kiss him, he rudely seized 
her by the arm, and severely beat her with his riding- 
—*■.:-.'.: '. ".::. j _-.-. " -_ z- :!:^t::::zl 



THE VOW Ell OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 69 

She walked down the road, not knowing where to go, 
until she met a poor widow, who took her to her own 
home, and eared for her. There she spent the night in 
prayer. Early next morning the father sent, in great 
haste, for his daughter, and met her at the gate, saying, 
•• [ give you my heart and hand to go with you to heaven.*' 
The mother followed, and all rejoiced in the saving 
power of Christ. 

A firm stand for Jesus did it all. Oh. that we would 
get a firmer grasp on Christ, and make our prayers and 
love melt those around us to the same sweet trust in 
Jesus. 

•• shir/ unto the Lord." — Ps. xcvi. 1. 

During the days of fierce persecutions of the Christians 
by the Catholics of Ireland, a small company met in a 
barn to hold their meeting. One of the most violent 
opposers secreted himself in the barn in order to open 
the door, and let in his comrades. As the earnest voices 
joined in singing praises to God. the Holy Spirit touched 
the spring of his heart, and his evil designs came up 
before him as a great mountain, and he cried out from 
his hiding-place for mercy. 

How true the words of him who said. " A hymn is a 
singing angel that goes walking through the earth, scat- 
tering the devils before it." 

Many of us fail to realize that we can worship God 
by singing from the heart, songs of devotion. It is a 
form of worship that we can attend or partake of as we 
go about the busy cares of life. •• sing unto the Lord.'' 

" Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." — Ps. cvii. 2. 
At the breaking out of the late war an old woman 
started out with a shovel in her hand. When asked what 



70 THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 

she intended to do, she replied, " I can't do much, but I 
can show which side I am on." 

How little do Christians realize the necessity of con- 
fessing Christ by their everyday life. In that memor- 
able sermon of our Lord, he commands that we " let our 
light so shine before men that they, seeing our good 
works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven." 
Beloved, the eye of the world is ever gazing at you. If 
you deny your Saviour, you may cause another to deny 
him also, and at the last be denied of him. 

Let us be more faithful in making our life show that 
we are on the Lord's side. 

" So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth ; 
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish 
that which I please, and It shall prosper in the thing 
whereto I sent it." — Isa. lv. 11. 

Mrs. A. C. Morrow relates of a lady who, looking out 
from a window upon a river, was attracted by the strange 
appearance of a gentleman walking excitedly up and 
down the banks of the stream. She suspected he was 
meditating suicide, and determined to make an effort to 
save him. Walking toward the river, and passing quietly 
by him, she said softly, as if speaking to herself, "There 
is a river the streams whereof make glad the City of 
God." 

She returned home. Years went by, and the incident 
was forgotten. Attending a religious meeting, the gen- 
tleman spoke to her, and told her how the words she had 
quoted were the means of saving him, both soul and 
body. " Then there is a happiness to be found, and I 
will seek it,*' thought the man, and he turned from the 
river which he had determined to make his grave. So 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 71 

many Christians sow too little of the word of God, and 
worn too much about the growth of that already sown. 
Would to God we would only do that which it is our duty 
to do, and let God make the growth as seemeth best in 
his sight. What a great ingathering of lost ones, if 
every Christian would plant the word of God into the 
hearts of those around him, and trust God's promise : " I 
will not let my word return unto me void." 



"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love 
and to good works." — Heb. x. 24. 

I remember reading of a traveller who was crossing 
the Alps, being overtaken by a severe snowstorm, he 
became drowsy by his long exposure to the cold, and lay 
down in the snow to rest. Just then he saw another 
traveller approaching from an opposite direction. The 
poor, unfortunate man seemed even in a worse condition 
than himself. He collected his strength, and managed 
to crawl to where the traveller was, and, taking his hands 
in his own, he began to rub them with all the strength 
left him. His companion soon began to revive, his 
powers were restored, and he was able to resume his 
journey. The exercise bestow r ed upon the traveller had 
started the first traveller's blood into circulation anew, 
and they reached shelter in safety. So it is in our Chris- 
tian life : by helping others heavenward, we also walk 
in the same direction, and render pleasing service to our 
God. 

"Evil communications corrupt good manners." 

1 Cob. xv. 33. 
It is told of a sweet-voiced canary that it forgot how to 
sing by having its cage hung outside where it was con- 



72 THE POWER OF CHRISTIAX INFLUENCE. 

stantly surrounded by sparrows. It gave up its once sweet 
notes, and learned to chatter the meaningless, tuneless 
notes of the sparrow. The constant association with the 
Christless is apt to make our hearts Christless. What a 
heaven-sent blessing are our church homes, that we ma} T 
from time to time have the fire of Christian love kindled 
into a new blaze, and have our strength renewed to 
serve Christ, and withstand the wiles of the evil one. 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven." — Matt. v. 16. 

Some years ago a minister was invited by a pastor in 
another neighborhood to come and aid him in a revival 
service. He accepted the invitation, and spent several 
days laboring for souls. The day of his departure came, 
and as he was leaving, the pastor walked with him some 
distance, and when they arrived at the edge of a beauti- 
ful grove, they knelt down and prayed for each other. A 
man was at work in a field near by, and saw the servants 
of God on their knees praying. He began to meditate 
on his own condition, and soon saw what a great sinner 
he was. He attended the meetings, and publicly con- 
fessed Christ, dating the first impression to the influence 
of the two godly men in their little outdoor prayer- 
meeting. 

May God use this little illustration in bringing us to a 
truer realization of the importance of living for Christ in 
such a way that our daily lives will influence sinners to 
turn to God's service. 

" A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." — Gal. v. 9. 
In one of our western cities, high up on a very tall 
building, is a large clock. It registers what is called 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 73 

"electric time," and known to be very accurate because 
it is regulated by the calculations of scientific instruments. 
On a large sign is painted, " Correct city time," and when 
one has any doubts about having the exact time, he sets 
his watch by this clock. 

Great mills, railroads, manufactories, run by its time. 
Should it lose or gain an hour the whole city would be 
thrown into confusion. Let us remember, one watch set 
right will do to set many by ; while, on the other hand, 
the watch that goes wrong may be the means of mislead- 
ing a whole multitude of others. So it is with life. A 
wholly consecrated person may become the example for 
many, and a wicked life of sin may too be the means of 
entangling a whole community of associates. " Examine 
yourselves." 

" And ivhosoever shall offend one of these little ones that 
believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were 
hanged about his neck, and lie ivere cast into the sea" 

Mark ix. 42. 

A fashionable lady passing down one of the streets of 
a great city one day saw two men quarrelling ; they soon 
came to blows, and suddenly one drew a pistol and shot 
his antagonist dead. The lady fainted at such an awful 
sight, and was at once conveyed to her elegant home, 
and tenderly cared for by kind friends. 

When the poor unfortunate murderer came to the bar 
of justice to answer the charge of taking the life of his 
fellow-man, the lady was summoned as a witness for the 
State. The evidence was conclusive. The jury said he 
was guilty, and must suffer the penalty in such cases. 
The day of execution arrived. The condemned man 
sent the lady a request to visit him. Hardly had she 
entered his cell when the poor man pointing his ringer 



74 THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 

at her, said, " Madam, I was raised by praying parents, 
early was I taught to reverence everything sacred. Well 
do I remember a sainted mother who taught me to lisp 
the name of Jesus. Years ago, you invited me, then a 
3*oung man, to attend a card party at your residence. 
There you handed me the first glass of wine that ever 
passed my lips. Madam, it was on that occasion, and at 
your earnest entreaties, I took the step that placed me 
where I now am. There it was I learned to love 
that which made me an outcast in life, and my dis- 
grace at death. What ever part of this deed you shall 
be called upon to answer for, I must not say." The offi- 
cer led the man to his doom, and the lady returned home 
with a heavy heart, knowing she had heard the truth. 
Great God ! awaken us and help us to see the responsi- 
bility our actions bring upon us. Every child of God is 
but a signboard, as it were, whose life should point 
the world heavenward. How careful should we be that 
Satan does not creep in unawares, and cause us to point 
in the wrong direction. 

" But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: 
let them ever shout for joy ." — Ps. v. 11. 

A lad was converted at a revival service. On his way 
home the thought came to him that his parents would be 
sore displeased with him, and his brothers and sisters 
ridicule him. He knelt clown and poured out his soul 
to God in prayer. 

The new-found joy beamed forth and manifested itself 
in every movement. 

A few days later, the pent-up love of Christ could no 
longer be bound, and he went to his brother and told him 
that he had found such wonderful joy. The brother re- 
plied, " Henry, I've been watching you lately. I saw in 



77/ K PO WFAl OFmi 7/ BIS TIA N 1NFL UENCE. 75 

your life something unusual. Do you suppose God will 
do for me what he has done for you?" — "Yes, Tom, 
and even greater things ; only come to him trusting." The 
result was that the lad's example led to Christ the entire 
family. — father, mother, brother, and sisters, all were 
made to rejoice with him. My dear friend, the religion 
of Jesus Christ is a religion of joy and peace ; and no one 
who basks in the sunshine of his love has a right to a 
downcast countenance. Then, again, if we have joy in 
our religion, it casts a ray of influence around us, and 
creates a desire on the part of our friends and associates 
to seek and find alike peace and joy. 

" Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord piti- 
eth them that fear him. — Ps. ciii. 13. 

A gentleman was standing one morning on the plat- 
form of a railroad station, holding by the hand his little 
seven-year-old daughter. As they stood there waiting 
the arrival of the train, they heard on the platform the 
tramp of a dozen or more heavy feet coming up the walk. 
The little girl turned, and saw a sight such as she had 
never seen before. Six great, giant-like policemen 
marching two abreast, guarding a fierce, wicked-looking 
man, with great chains on his limbs. They were taking 
him under this heavy guard to prison for some great 
crime he had committed. 

The little girl thought how sad must be that heart. 
She pitied him from the depth of her soul. 

When the company had gathered opposite the little 
girl, the fierce eye of the prisoner turned and looked at 
her, and suddenly turned from her to almost immedi- 
ately turn and glance back at her pitying eyes — he 
once more turned his face from her, as if her presence 
annoyed him. The child rushed forward, and nearly 



76 THE POWER OF CHBISTMN INFLUENCE. 

came to the prisoner. She looked at him, and said, " I 
did not mean to plague yon, poor man ; I am so sorry for 
yon, and Jesus is sorry for you, too." The father led 
the child quickly away ; no one seemed to hear the sim- 
ple words but the prisoner, whose heart was cut to the 
quick. He carried the picture of that innocent child 
with him along his weary ride, and even to his gloomy 
cell. As the guards delivered their charge, the warden 
expected to have a great deal of trouble with such a 
noted criminal. But as time passed on, to the surprise 
of the prison officials, he grew more kind and obedient 
day by day. One day the chaplain asked how it was 
that he had turned out to be such a different man from 
what they expected of him. " It is a very simple 
story," said the man. " A child was sorry for me — she 
sympathized with me, and told me Jesus was sorry for 
me, too ; her pity and his broke my heart of stone." 

How Christ pities poor lost humanity ! but we can 
never win them to salvation in Christ unless our 
hearts are so filled with him that we show his pity and 
love. 

"Blessed are the dead tvlth-li die in the Lord.'' 1 

Kev. xiv. 13. 

" A Jew going into the house of a brother Jew, who 
had lost a dear child, saw him in uncontrollable 
agony. He tore his hair, and beat his head against the 
wall, and would not be consoled. He soon went into 
another bereaved home, where the inmates were Chris- 
tians. 

" Very calmly they led him to the room where the loved 
one lay in her coffin. There were no outbursts of grief 
there. Pinned upon the breast of the departed one 
were the words, " She sleeps in Jesus. " He was so pro- 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 77 

foundly impressed with the love and faith of one who 
could so quietly look upon the face of the dead, that he 
too embraced Christianity." 

" Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." 

Exodus xx. 8. 

A servant who had recently experienced the blessed- 
ness of faith in Christ was ordered by his master to 
perform a certain piece of work on the Sabbath day. 
u But." said the servant, " it is the Sabbath day." " Does 
not Christ say. if a man have an ox or an ass that falls 
into a pit on the Sabbath day, he may pull him out," 
replied the master. " Yes," said the servant, " but if 
the ox has a habit of choosing the Sabbath day to fall into 
the pit, then the man should either fill up the pit or sell 
the ox." 

How many unbecoming deeds Christians do on the 
Sabbath under the cloak of our Lord's words. " Ye have 
perverted the words of the living God," and placed 
a strained construction upon the Scriptures to make them 
apply to your deeds of unrighteousness. 

" For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to 
himself — Rom. xiv. 7. 

Of Pontitianus, a high officer in the court of the em- 
peror, a story is told which runs as follows : He and a 
friend were walking one day in the gardens near the 
city walls, when they came to a humble cottage, occupied 
by a poor servant. In order to see more of the life of 
the poor, they went in and asked for a drink of water. 
As they sat there, one of them found on the table a small 
book — the life of Antony — he began to read and to 
admire ; as he read a little farther he began to meditate 
upon abandoning such a life as he had lived, and take up 



78 THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 

such an one as he was reading. As the spirit of God 
began to loose the scales from his eyes, he turned to 
Pontitianus and said, " Tell me, I pray thee, what will 
we finally attain by all these labors of ours ? What aim 
we at ? Can our hopes rise higher than to become the 
Emperor's favorites ? And in this, what is there that is 
not brittle and full of perils ? And by how many perils 
arrive we at even greater perils ? Now, if I desire, I can 
become the friend of God ? " After reading a little more 
he exclaimed, " Now have I broken loose from these, 
our former hopes, and am resolved to serve God, and 
from this hour and from this place I begin ; if you 
desire not to imitate me, do not oppose me." The friend 
replied, " I will cleave to you, and partake of so gracious 
a reward, and labor in so glorious a service." 

Both led to saving faith in Christ by reading the good 
deeds of a Christian life. Dear reader, bear in mind our 
breath may leave this mortal body, but the character we 
have made will forever live and build up or pull down 
the travellers along the path we have trod. May we 
from this incident take new courage, and leave along the 
path of life only that which will build up our fellow- 
man in a godly life, and eventually lead him into the por- 
tals of heavenly bliss. 

" My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" 

Prov. i. 10. 
One bright Sabbath morning, several years ago, eight 
young men were walking along the banks of the river 
not far from Washington city. They were on their way 
to a shady grove to spend the day playing at cards, and 
each carrying in his pocket a bottle of wine. They for- 
got the praying mothers they had left behind them. As 
they strolled along, amusing each other with their idle 



THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 79 

jests, the sound of the village church bell two miles 
away attracted their attention. Presently, one of their 
number suddenly halted, and, addressing the friend near- 
est to him, said, " I will go no further, but must return 
and go to church." His friend called to his companions, 
who were a little way off, and told them to come back, 
George had a religious lit ; " Come," said he, " let us im- 
merse him in the river." They formed a circle around 
him, and informed him that if he persisted in breaking 
into the arrangements as planned, they would immerse 
him in the cold river. " I am very well aware that you 
have the power to do so, and to even drown me if you 
choose ; but I will never go with you. You all know I 
am two hundred miles from home, but you do not know 
that my mother has been, before my earliest recollections, 
a helpless, bedridden invalid. I am her youngest child ; 
my father is poor, and could not afford to pay my way at 
school ; the teacher kindly took me as a free student. 
The morning I left home, my mother called me to her and 
said, ' My son, you do not know the agony of a mother's 
heart in parting with her youngest child. When you 
leave me to-day, you will have looked upon my face for 
the last time on earth. Your father is unable to pay 
your expenses to visit us, and I am very near the grave ; 
my counsel to you is to seek the help of God in every- 
thing you do. Every Sabbath morning from ten to 
eleven o'clock, I will spend in silent prayer in your 
behalf. Wherever you may be during that hour, as the 
church bell rings, let your thoughts come back to this 
chamber, where your dying mother is praying for you.' 
I never expect to see my mother again on earth ; by 
the help of God, I will meet her in heaven." As George 
stopped speaking, great tears rolled down the cheeks of 
the little company ; the circle was broken, and George 



80 THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. 

went his way to church ; he had battled against great 
odds, and had won the victory. As he turned to see the 
direction his companions had taken, he saw them follow- 
ing him to church ; they had thrown away their cards 
and flasks, never again to take them up — from that 
day forward they became changed men, and useful 
Christian workers. 



CHAPTER V. 



TEMPTATION. 



"blessed is the man that endureth temp- 
james i. 12. 



81 



TEMPTATION. 



"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for 
when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life, which the 
Lord hath promised to them that love him. — Jas. i. 12. 

A gentleman on being asked for a remedy for tempta- 
tion, replied, " Keep yourself so full of Christ, that sin 
can find no crevice in which to breed mischief." 

Mr. Spurgeon says, " The sea can do the ship no harm 
until the water enters it." 

Fill a bushel with wheat, and the chaff comes to the 
surface and is blown away. 

Xo wonder we ofttimes find it hard to keep sinful 
thoughts from our hearts. 

How easy it would be if we kept Christ there. The 
heart cannot remain vacant, and if we do not have 
Christ's presence to fill it, we cannot hinder Satan from 
taking up his abode within us. 

u Put on the whole armour of God } that ye may be able 
to stand against the wiles of the devil." — Eph. vi. 11. 

A well-known Christian gentleman was returning, a 
few years ago, from a voyage to China. As the vessel 
was just about entering the harbor of New York, and he 
had arranged his toilet and was ready to step ashore, 
there came a stubborn wind which drove them again to 
sea, and for several days they were tossed about by the 

83 



84 TEMPTATION. 

turbulent billows, in a more furious manner than they 
had been during the entire voyage from the other side of 
the world. 

Now this is often the way with the Christian ; when 
Satan sees that he is about ready to quit the voyage of 
life and enter the harbor of God's joys, he ofttimes turns 
his marshalled forces against him, and tries to drive him 
back by doubts and fears. But he who has donned the 
whole armor of God is able through Christ to battle 
with all these forces and come off victorious, and triumph- 
antly enter the portals of peace. Then, too, the same 
drawbacks are met with by the sinner who seeks to un- 
load his burden of sin at the feet of Christ. Satan in 
this case, also makes a special effort to heap up the high 
mountains of obstacles and prevent his coining. Many 
are the devices to which he resorts. " Too great a sin- 
ner."' "Wait awhile." "I will, by and by," "I am afraid 
I won't hold out." "My faith is too weak," "God will 
save me, any way,'' and a thousand others equally incon- 
sistent. 

But friend, " greater is He that is for you, than he 
that is against you." All you have to do to cause such 
foes to vanish, is simply, " Fix your eyes upon Jesus." 

" We ought to obey God rather than meti." 

Acts v. 29. 
A Christian captain of a sperm whaler, refused to 
allow his boats to be lowered for the chase on the Sab- 
bath day. His men, who were to receive a share of the 
oil taken, rebelled, and in order to quiet their threaten- 
ing voices, he promised to give them so much of his por- 
tion of oil as would pay them for the loss of the day. 
The mate, more violent in his determinations said, " The 
owner will think nothing of losing his share of the oil, 



TEMPTATION. 85 

T will however, see that you do not command any more 
of his vessels." By this time the mate saw the dignity 
of his captain's position, and began to apologize, when his 
eye rested on the barometer. He noticed the very sud- 
den fall of the mercury ; and ere the men could be sum- 
moned, a terrible hurricane had struck the ship. Had 
the crew gone oft' on a cruise, all would have been lost. 
For days the wind drove the ship before it, and when 
calm was again restored they found themselves in such a 
good fishing place, that they filled their ship in less than 
one third the usual time. 



" The devil as a roaring lion, loalketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour" — 1 Pet. v. 8. 

" The world is Satan's bait. He seldom throws out a 
naked hook. Let murder, fraud, idolatry, or lying, be 
presented in their undisguised turpitude, and few of good 
education and morals can be taken captive by him. But 
he conceals the hook in a tempting bait, and like a skil- 
ful angler, he knows how to use that part of the world 
that is best suited to our tastes, and most likely to decoy. 
For one he has a golden bait ; for another, pleasure ; for 
another, fame ; another, worldly honor, etc., etc. ; — and 
his throne in our families and in our closets." — Jacksox. 

What a world of truth this great man has given us, and 
how true to life. In scripture we are repeatedly com- 
manded to " examine ourselves," that we may rid our 
hearts of that which Satan employs to ensnare us. 

" When the hours are dark and drear, 
When the tempter lurketh near ; 
By thy strengthening grace, out-poured, 
Save thy tempted ones, oh Lord." 



86 TEMPT ATIOX. 

"Cleanse thou me from secret faults." — Ps. xix. 12. 

A gentleman who had spent some time in Italy said 
that while at Florence, one day his attention was attracted 
by the mournful notes of some birds, and he was led to 
inquire the cause of their sad twitterings : he found in a 
room a great number of birds in cages, and that the eyes 
of each had been put out by means of some pointed 
instrument. At night the owners of the birds took them 
outside the city, and hung the cages in trees that were 
varnished with a heavy coat of a kind of mucilage. 
These birds kept up their mournful songs, and attracted 
other birds to their cages ; and the coating of mucilage 
so fastened them that the men could easily capture them. 

How true to life is the illustration ! Satan puts the 
spiritual sight from millions of poor mortals, and uses 
them to decoy others into his net. On every hand we 
see the effect of wicked men who are Satan's agents in 
alluring others into the net. It behooves every child of 
God to arm himself with the whole armor of Christ 
Jesus that he may be "able to withstand the wiles of 
the devil.'* and constantly keep his eye upon God who 
•• will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, 
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, 
that ye may be able to bear it." 

" fiesist the devil, and he will flee from you.'' 

Jas. iv. 7. 

A gentleman, who has spent many years of his life in 
capturing wild animals, says of the wolf. that, when 
attacked, he will first note the earnestness with which 
the enemy presses the attack, and. if he shows great 
determination, he scampers away. But if he detects the 



TEMPTATION. 87 

least fear in his pursuer's movements, he will defend him- 
self with great bravery. 

The same way with old Satan : he tempts us by first 
placing some trivial thing in our path ; and if we offer 
no resistance, he suddenly attacks us with all his force, 
and overcomes us. Thanks be to God, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ, resistance through him can make Satan flee 
from us ! 

"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
spirit, which is the word of God.''' — Eph. vi. 17. 

•• During the career of Joan of Arc as a warrior, it is 
related of her that she never appeared before her men 
without her banner waving above her ; and the enemy is 
credited with saying that, in battle, they could see angels 
hovering over it, which so dismayed them that they 
despaired of victory. What amount of truth is in the 
illustration, judge ye ? but this remember, dear friend, 
that when Satan sees you carrying the banner of Christ 
with you, he never will attack you with sufficient force to 
cause you to yield. Arm yourself, therefore, with the 
" sword of the spirit, which is the word of God," wave 
thy banner above thee, and victory is thine. 

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 

Exod. xx. 8. 
Some years ago a prominent bank president sum- 
moned his confidential clerk into his private office, and 
handed him a large bundle of papers, telling him that 
they must be copied and ready for him early Monday 
morning. " Sir," said the young man, " this is Saturday ; 
in order to have them ready for you at the hour named 
I must work all day Sunday." — " That may be true ; but 



88 TEMPTATION. 

when I want my work, I want it," responded the presi- 
dent. — " But. sir. I cannot break God's commandment, 
and will not do so for my salary," he said. — " You can 
choose as you like, sir," said the banker. " You can give 
up your position, or accede to my demands."' — "I choose 
the former, sir, without hesitation." said the clerk. He 
took his hat, and left the bank. Some of his friends 
called him a fool for being so particular. In a few days 
the banker was called on by some gentlemen who were 
just starting a bank. They asked him if he could tell 
them of a reliable, capable man to act as cashier. "I 
know just the man you want," said the banker. — " Where 
is he now ? " — " He is not employed, having been dis- 
charged by his former employer." — " We don't want any 
castouts," replied the men. — " Wait," said the banker ; 
" I discharged him because he refused to work on Sunday. 
I will be his bondsman for any amount." The clerk was 
called on by the gentlemen, and engaged at a handsome 
salary. 

Whatever may be our inclinations, in whatever light 
the world sees us, we will rind in the end it is " better to 
obey and honor God rather than man." 

" The devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour''' — 1 Pet. v. 8. 

During the darkness of a heavy fog, Hannibal, the 
great general, secreted his forces, and waylaid the army 
of Flaminius as it passed through a narrow defile. In 
an unguarded moment he sprang from his place of con- 
cealment, and almost completely destroyed the Roman 
forces. 

So it is with Satan : he delights to waylay us. and, 
when off our guard, pounce upon us, and drag us down. 



Her Only Brother. 

Translated from the German of W. HEIMBURG by JEAN W. WYLIE. 
One vol. i2mo. $1.25. 

\A/ HELM BURG is the ?wm de guerre of Frau Bertha Behrens, a 
^ • writer whose stories have enjoyed a quiet but extraordinary 
popularity in Germany. " E. Marlitt" is better known in this country, but 
it may be interesting to know that, on the death of the latter, " W. Heim- 
burg " was called upon to bring her last unfinished novel to a conclusion. 

U \V. Ileimburg's" writings are characterized by their strict purity, 
faithful adherence to truth and nature, their pleasant glow of romance, 
and their simple but fascinating plots. 

One of the best of her works has been translated by Miss Jean W. 
Wylie, of Philadelphia. The critics of the country have agreed in 
commending 

"HER ONLY BROTHER." 



Christian Instructor. 
San Francisco 

Bulletin. 

Ne-jjark Advertiser . 
Cleveland Leader 

and Herald. 
Toledo Blade, 
tf rgonaut. 

Commercial Bulletin. 

Boston Post. 
Philadelphia 

American. 
Presbyterian Banner. 
Baltimore American. 

Boston Journal. 
Philadelphia Ledger. 
Boston Transcript. 



Notices of the Press: 

/ " The moral lessons are wholesome." 

"The story -telling faculty and excellent descriptive power 
of the author combine to produce an entertaining novel, free 
from sensationalism and forced situations." 

" A charming story of German country and domestic life." 

"Simplicity of s'yle, r.nited to strong interest and height- 
ened dramatic coloring." 

" With considerable intensity." 

" Simple and pretty pictures of home life in the Father- 
land." 

"One rises from the reading of such a story refreshed 
with the memory, at least, of the ideals of youth." 

"Quiet, wholesome, and unsensational." 

"A good story, quietly but forcibly told, and is full of 
pleasing pictures of life in Northern Germany." 

" The characters are skilfully and strongly drawn." 

" We are seldom given a novel of more charming con- 
ception." 

" The translation is gracefully done." 

" This pretty romance." 

" One of TIeimburg's charming stories." 



THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO., 

13 ASTOR PLACE, NEW YORK. 



SUMMER LEGENDS. 

Translated from the German of Rudolph Baumbach by 
Mrs. Helen B. Dole. 12mo, cloth, gilt top, $1.25. 



Rudolph Baumbach is the most spontaneous and sparkling 
of modern German poets. He has Heine's wit without a trace 
of his bitterness. 

Baumbach's prose is as fascinating as his poetry. It is 
limpid, simple, strong, and pure. His "Summer Legends " are 
remarkable for their fancy, which is never trivial ; their delicate 
humor, which plays over the foibles of human nature but never 
stings ; their quaint poetical flavor, and their adaptability to 
amuse and interest all classes of readers. Charmingly translated 
into simple, unaffected English, they deserve to become as classic 
and popular in America as they are in Germany, where they 
have had a phenomenal success. 



The 12.766th query in the Boston Transcript had these words: — "Will some 
one give a list of books and authors, interesting- to a family of three boys, seven, 
nine, and eleven years old, — boys who like all sorts of stories, from Grimm to 
Homer, and who devour the younger books of history and adventure: boys who 
would gladly read 'She,' 'King Solomon's Mines,' or 'Treasure Island,' but 
whose mother prefers less exciting fiction for them. What would be good (and 
interesting) to read aloud to such a trio? " 

" Summer Legends " would occupy a high place in such a list. 

PRESS NOTICES. 

" Inventive fancy — grace and simplicity of form — keenness and spontaneity of 
wit. Their charm will be felt by all classes'." — Christian Union. 

" Full of diversion for young people who like fairytales at once simple and kind 
in spirit, and with the most honest morals." — Boston Post. 

" We know of no modern fairy tales, or, for that matter, ancient ones, which 
would give keener delight to an imaginative child than these. * * * We are quite 
sure that the elders as well would enjoy the exquisite grace, sly humor, and here 
and there the tender pathos of these stories." — Boston Advertiser. 

" Nothing of half the merit has been published since the translation of Labou- 
lave's Fairy Tales and the Stories of Haaff. * * * Baumbach has a lighter touch 
and keener "wit than either of these authors." — Commercial Bulletin. 

"Light, fascinating, and pure." — Albany Press. 

"The delight is superlative." — Hartford Post. 

"New, original, and delightful — twenty odd stories that have never been told 
before." — iV. Y. Sun. 

" Fairly bubbling over with wholesome fun."— Literary World. 

" Xor is it credible that the original can have lost a scintilla of its wit, a whiff 
of its savor, through Mrs. Dole's translation." — Philadelphia Press. 



THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 

13 ASTOR PLACE, NEW YORK. 



TEMPTATION. 8 ( J 

Our Saviour laid an equal stress upon "Watch" as he 
did upon •■ pray." " Watch as well as pray." He is able 
to succor them that are tempted and tried, for " The Lord 
knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation." 
At the same time, gentle reader, it is your duty to watch 
and pray that } r e enter not into temptation. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SECRET SINS. 



"he that covereth his sins shall not prosper." 

PROV. xxviii. 13. 



91 



SECEET SINS. 



" Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able 
to stand against the idles of the devil" — Eph. vi. 11. 

It is said that Baldur the Good having been tormented 
with terrible dreams indicating that his life was in dan- 
ger, told them to the assembled gods who resolved to 
conjure all things so as to avert the threatened danger 
from him. Then Frigga, the wife of Odin, exacted an oath 
from fire and water, from iron and all other metals, from 
stones, trees, diseases, beasts, birds, poisons, and creeping 
things, that none of them would do any harm to Baldur. 
Odin, not satisfied with all this, and feeling alarmed for 
the fate of his son, determined to consult the prophetess 
Angerbode, a giantess, mother of Fenris, Hela, and the 
Midgard serpent. 

But the other gods, feeling that what Frigga had done 
was quite sufficient, amused themselves with using Baldur 
as a mask, some hurling darts at him, some stones, while 
others hewed at him with their swords and battle-axes, 
for do what they would, none of them could harm him. 
And this became a favorite pastime with them, and 
was regarded as an honor to Baldur. But Loki, who 
beheld this scene, was sorely vexed that Baldur was not 
hurt. Assuming, therefore, the shape of a woman, he 
went to Fensalir, the mansion of Frigga. That goddess 
when she saw the pretended woman, inquired of her if 
she knew what the gods were doing at their meetings. 



94 SECRET SINS. 

She replied that they -were throwing darts and stones at 
Baldur, without being able to hurt him. "Ay," said 
Trigga, " neither stones, nor sticks, nor anything else can 
hurt Baldur, for I have exacted an oath from all of them." 
— '-What!" exclaimed the woman, '•have all things 
sworn to spare Baldur ? " — " All things," replied Frigga, 
" except one little shrub that grows on the eastern side 
of Valhalla, and is called Mistletoe, and which I thought 
too young and feeble to crave an oath from." 

As soon as Loki heard this he went away, and resum- 
ing his natural shape, cut off the mistletoe, and repaired 
to the place where the gods were assembled. There he 
found Hodur standing apart, without partaking of the 
sports, on account of his blindness, and going up to him 
said. ■• Why dost thou not also throw something at Bal- 
dur ? " — " Because I am blind," answered Hodur, " and 
see not where Baldur is, and have, moreover, nothing to 
throw." — " Come then," said Loki, " do like the rest, and 
show honor to Baldur by throwing this twig at him, and 
I will direct thy arm toward the place where he stands.*' 

Hodur then took the mistletoe, and under the guidance 
of Loki, darted it at Baldur, who, pierced through and 
through, fell down lifeless. — From Twelve Steps Heaven- 
ward. 

The mother thought this little insignificant plant too 
feeble to injure her son. yet the same became mighty in 
the hands of the enemy. How many of us are carrying 
in our hearts some little sins that we think unable to in- 
jure us, so small and insignificant that we deem ourselves 
in no danger on account of them ? Satan may take hold of 
just that little thing and drag us down. How necessary 
to " examine ourselves " often, and not let such little sins 
creep upon us. It has been said that " he that despiseth 
little things shall fall by little and little.'' Surely, he that 



SECBET SINS. 95 

allows little sins to lodge in his heart will "fall by little 
and little," yet his fall may be as fatal as that of the open 
rebellious sinner. Satan always attacks us at an un- 
guarded spot, and though however little, he forces temp- 
tations upon us. it then becomes necessary for us to put 
on the whole armor of God that we may be able to resist 
Satan. 

"He that covereth Ins shis shall not prosper." 

Pbov. xxviii. 13. 

A gentleman living in the State of New York said not 
long since, that, one day when he was a boy he became 
angered at a command of his father, and as an act of re- 
venge took an axe, and hacked a deep gash in a beautiful 
maple tree that stood in the yard. 

The bark soon grew over the wound, and nothing more 
was thought of it until many years later the tree fell be- 
fore the wind storm. The gentleman went to the tree, 
and found the hack he had made had gone to the heart 
of the tree, and the whole heart had become rotten. 

So likewise is he that harbors in his heart some secret 
sin. In the course of time he may rest assured " his sins 
will find him out." In the course of time, his heart will 
become polluted, and he will fall. 

" Ye cannot serve God and mammon " for the two can- 
not exist in one heart. Oh that we, like the Psalmist, 
would seek divine aid in cleansing us of our secret faults, 
that are sapping our very life blood. 

Like the little vine that begins to wind around the 
tree, at first nothing is thought of it, but as time rolls on 
it climbs higher and higher until it completely covers it, 
choking life out. So is the result of these secret sins. 
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper." But on 
the other hand, he who goes to Christ, and confesses his 



96 SECRET SINS. 

sins shall be as the " tree planted by the river of waters 
. . . and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." 

" But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will 
your Father for (j lee your trespasses." — Matt. vi. 15. 

Many years ago, Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, and 
Mr. John TVesley chanced to take passage on the same 
vessel for a voyage across the ocean. One day the gov- 
ernor became very angry at one of his servants for some 
trifling inattention, and said to Mr. Wesley, "I will be 
revenged on him, the rascal should have been careful how 
he used me, for I never forgive." 

Mr. Wesley turned to the angry man, and calmly said, 
" Then I do hope, sir, yon never sin." 

The passionate man grew calm and said no more about 
the servant. Some professing Christians nurse in their 
hearts just such a spirit, and expect to serve the blessed 
Saviour acceptably. My friend, such worship is, in the 
sight of God, as " sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." 
Christ's own words condemn us. If we forgive not the 
insignificant little matter between man and man, how can 
God forgive our constant shortcomings ? 

" But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that 
curse you. do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
■which despiteful! y use you and persecute you." 

Matt. v. 44. 

During the illustrious Washington's life, a Christian 
gentleman learned that one of his neighbors had been 
sentenced to death. The gentleman went to the general, 
and besought him to pardon his neighbor. 

The general informed him that the sentence must be 
carried out, and that nothing could be done for him. 



3ECBET 8IN8, 97 

"He is my worst enemy," said the intercessor. Wash- 
ington turned to the man. and said, "And you have 
walked sixty miles, through the snow, to ask pardon for 
him ? and he your worst enemy ? Your request shall be 
granted." The gentleman set out on his weary journey, 
satisfied. 

How pleasing in the sight of God is such a spirit ! 
But I hear one say. " It is impossible to love and forgive 
him who is injuring you." My friend, Christ commands 
us to do it. and he never requires of us an impossibility. 
True Christian love overrides all such difficulties, and 
enables us to say, with our adorable Saviour, " Father, for- 
give them, for they know not what they do." 

Let us at the outset fix this fact in our minds — that 
we cannot serve Christ while such a spirit finds lodge- 
ment in our hearts. Jesus cannot forgive us when we go 
to him with unforgiven wrongs treasured in our hearts. 

" Let vs lay aside every weighty and the sin tit at doth so 
easily beset vs. and let us run with patience the race that is 
set before vs." — Heb. xii. 1. 

Canon Wilberforce said that one day, while walking in 
the Isle of Skye, he saw a magnificent specimen of the 
golden eagle, soaring upward. He halted, and watched 
its flight. Soon he observed by its movements that some- 
thing was wrong. Presently it began to fall, and soon 
lay dead at his feet, Eager to know the reason of its 
death, he hastily examined it. and found no trace of 
gunshot wound; but he found that it held in its talons 
a small weasel, which, in its flight, was drawn near 
its body, and had sucked the life blood from the eagle's 
breast. 

The same end befalls him who clings to some secret 



98 SECRET SINS. 

sin ; sooner or later it will sap his life blood, and he falls 
down, lost, lost. Therefore, brother, "let us lay aside 
every weight " and the pet sin that we are harboring, and 
that is drawing us down, and " let us run the race that is 
set before us," "Looking unto Jesus, the author and 
finisher of our faith." We can run this race only when 
we have laid aside the weight of our worldliness, and 
have been cleansed of the sin that doth so easily beset 
us, by the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, which cleanseth 
us from all sin. 

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." 

1 Cor. v. 6. 

Dr. Booth once told the following incident of some 
brittle gold being accidentally dropped into a quantity 
of well-refined and tough gold ; and it was found to 
have rendered the entire mass brittle and unfit for coin- 
age. The impurity consisted of only a fraction of an 
ounce, yet it rendered seventy-five thousand ounces use- 
less for coinage. 

He that harbors some secret sin in his heart, though 
he do a million of good deeds, is in danger of letting one 
sin pull him down, and render of no value his good acts. 

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," and "he 
that offends in one point is guilty of all." 

" For whosoever shall keep the a: hole lair, and yet 
offend in one point, lie is guilty of all. — Jas. ii. 10. 

A wealthy gentleman employed a workman to erect 
upon a lot in the cemetery a costly monument. After 
the stone had been erected, and the finishing touches put 
on the carving, the proud workman sent for the owner to 
come and inspect the work. With a smile of satisfaction 



SECRET SINS. 99 

the artist pointed to the monument. The owner glanced 
at it a moment, and turned away, saying, "You have left 
out one letter, which renders all the labor and anxiety 
you have spent on it worthless to me, and 1 cannot accept 
your work." 

And so in carving the monument of our Christian 
characters : one pet sin may render the whole structure 
worthless, and cause it to crumble to dust. " All these 
things " we may have " kept from our youth up, yet one 
thing." a very necessary thing, "thou yet lackest." We 
need to be wholly purified and "cleansed from our secret 
faults." 



CHAPTER VII. 



SERVING GOD OUR FIRST DUTY. 



"seek ye first the kingdom of god." 

Matt. vi. 33. 



101 



SERVING GOD OUR FIRST DUTY. 



" And he said to them all, if any man will come after 
me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and 
follow me. — Luke ix. 23. 

The "Wagultzes, a heathen sect of Tartars, assemble 
once a year at public worship, which consists of sacrifi- 
cing one animal of every species. After which they hang 
the skins on certain trees, under which they assemble, 
prostrating themselves before them. This festival con- 
cludes with a great feast, at which the worshippers 
eat the flesh of the sacrifices, and return home feeling 
that they have discharged all their religious duties for 
the current year. 

Xow a great many professed Christians think that if 
they attend divine worship once a week, or once a month, 
they are discharging their whole duty to God. My friend, 
the religion of Jesus Christ is a religion for every day and 
hour of our lives. And he who truly serves God is he who 
makes his own life conform to the will of God, and daily 
follows in the footsteps of the adorable Christ. 

" I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." 

Gal. vi. 17. 

In Hindoostan, the followers of Vishnu distinguish 
themselves from other sects by painting their faces with 
a horizontal line. The followers of Siva use a perpen- 

103 



104 SERVING GOD OUR FIRST DUTY. 

dicular line, made with a peculiar clay. They are not 
afraid nor ashamed to let the world know and see them 
following their gods. 

So it should be with God's children. Xo act of wor- 
ship is more honored and acceptable to Jesus than that 
of daily bearing the marks of our Lord, and showing 
to the world that we are not ashamed to be found serv- 
ing Christ. Then, too, we have a direct command to so 
live ; for, says Christ, " Let your light so shine before 
men that they may see }'our good works, and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven." And " He that confesseth 
me before men, him will I confess before my Father in 
heaven." 

" But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right- 
eousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you." 

Matt. vi. 33. 

David Livingstone, who did so much toward opening 
up the dark continent of Africa, told the following story. 
When he was a boy, a faithful Christian man called 
him to his deathbed and said, " My son, make religion 
the everyday business of your life, and not a thing of 
fits and starts." Livingstone's life shows that he fol- 
lowed the advice to the day of his death, even to his last 
hour, which was spent on his knees in prayer to him to 
whom he had so often gone for comfort. 

There is no class of professors that God has so little 
respect for as those that serve him periodically. And 
there is no class that do so little in the cause as those 
that wait for the annual revival to fit the harness to 
them. God loves and honors him who strives to show, 
by his daily and hourly walk, that he bears branded on 
his body the marks of the Lord Jesus. We are to daily 
take up our cross and follow him. 



Serving cod or it first duty. 105 

•■ If any man trill come after me, let him den// himself, 
and take up his cross and follow me" — Matt. xvi. 24. 

There is among the Scythians a legend about one of 
their hero gods, who, after he had destroyed great num- 
bers of the human race, destroyed himself. So great was 
this god in the hearts of his people that it was by them 
considered a disgrace to die on a bed, and those that did 
not fall in battle frequently took their own lives, rather 
than not follow the example of their god, and thereby 
incur his displeasure. These poor heathen considered 
the privilege of dying as their god died, a great honor. 
We often call the service of our God a great sacrifice, 
when we should esteem it a privilege. We call it a sac- 
rifice because it requires self-denial, which most of us are 
unwilling to practise. Oh ! that we could learn to cru- 
cify self ; put self in the background for the service of 
our Master. 

" But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ." — 2 Pet. iii. 18. 

Passing along the street one day, I saw a company of 
men digging a large hole through a bed of solid rock. 
A few days afterwards I had occasion to pass that way 
again, and saw the men laying the foundations of a mag- 
nificent building. After some months I again passed 
that street, and found the workmen busily engaged in 
laying course after course of brick. The last time I saw 
that building it was towering heavenward, and the men 
were still laying the brick, course after course. 

Xow, this is the way with the Christian life. No one 
can at once enter into all the fulness of Christ, and 
sit down with folded hands, but day by day he is brought 
closer and closer, day by day he may "grow in grace and 



106 SERVING GOD OUR FIRST BUTT. 

the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus," until 
finally at the end he may step into the joys of heaven. 
Christ, who knew our nature, compared our lives to a 
" warfare." AYhile he is ever ready and willing to 
bestow on us that which will build up our Christian 
character, Satan is ever watching and pulling down ; 
hence, the warfare. Then, again, some Christians never 
get above the foundation, while others keep on building 
until their characters tower to the very heavens, and 
when the message comes to them, they only step over the 
word death, and enter the pearly gates. 

Let us, then, begin with a fixed determination to grow 
daily in grace. 

"It is good for me to draw near to God." 

Psa. lxxiii. 28. 

It is told of the late General Gordon, that each morn- 
ing, during his journey in the Soudan country, for half 
an hour there lay outside his tent, a white handkerchief. 
The whole camp well knew what it meant, and looked 
upon the little signal with the utmost respect ; no foot 
dared pass the threshold of that tent while the little 
guard lay there. " Xo message, however pressing, was 
to be delivered. Matters of life and death must wait 
until the little signal was taken away. Every one in 
that camp knew that God and Gordon were communing 
together." Sweet is the communion of that spirit that 
craves a nearness to its God. Powerful is the influence 
of that soul who daily and hourly longs to draw near to 
its God, and drink in the inspiring draughts of His 
presence. 

Brother, we don't get near enough to God ; it is good 
to draw near to God, but it is better to live daily and 
hourly near to him. 



>i:i;\ INQ GOD OUR FIRST LUTY. 10? 

"And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of 
riches, and tlte lasts of other things, entering in, choke the 
word, a inl it becometh unfruitful." — Mark iv. 19. 

It is said of the Duke of Alva, that on being asked by 
Henry IV., if he had observed the eclipses of the year, 
replied that he had so much business on earth, he had no 
leisure to even look up to heaven. 

How true that is with multitudes of men to-day, en- 
grossed with worldly cares, to the shutting out of all 
heavenly light. 

Happy is he who recognizes the bountiful hand of God 
in his daily life, as the provider of everything we 
enjoy. 

Thrice happy the lot of him who seeks first, the king- 
dom of God and his righteousness. Keeping the tempt- 
ing cares of life behind him as he presses toward the 
u mark of the high calling." 

" He that endureth to the end shall be saved." 

Matt. x. 22. 
The Duke of Wellington once plead with his friends, 
to be allowed to give up his position of honor in the 
army, and accept a low place, simply because he despaired 
of advancement. And the great Napoleon was tempted 
to end his own melancholy career, because he saw no ray 
of hope in gaining the honor he afterward attained. 
Oli. godly servant, thy way may seem dark; the yoke 
of the master may seem to gall your neck, it may look 
as if the hand of God was withdrawn; you may think 
your burden too heavy, the arm of flesh may be almost 
worn out, the sorest of temptations may crouch by your 
wayside, your power of resistance may seem all but ex- 
hausted, the hand of bereavement may have torn your 



108 SE&VlNG GOB OUR FIBST DUTY. 

heart; — let me say, "Endure to the end.*' I come to 
you with a great promise from Christ the Lord ; oh, take 
courage, "He that endureth to the end " Shall be saved.'' 

"Ibear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." 

Gal. vi. 17. 

A gentleman was receiving some money at a bank one 
day, when he noticed a small, scarlet thread pending to 
one of the bills, he took hold of* it to pull it out, but 
found it was woven into the very texture of the paper, 
and could not be withdrawn without doing serious 
damage to the bill. "Oh," said the banker, "you'll find 
all government bills made in the same way, at least those 
of recent issue. It is a private mark ; then, too. it also 
makes the art of counterfeiting much more difficult."' 

Oh, friend, the glory in the thought, that the Lord 
Jesus hath so honored us as to place his mark upon us ! 
•• My sheep know my voice and they follow me." May 
not the thought inspire us to greater zeal in walking so 
near Christ, that the world may see him through us and 
be led to serve him. 

"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." 

J as. iv. 7. 
Martin Luther said, "When the devil finds me idle 
and I do not think of God's word, then he tempteth my 
conscience. But when I get hold on God's word, then I 
have won the game ; then I resist the devil and say thus, 
' I know, and of God's word am sure, that this doctrine 
is not mine, but the doctrine of the Son of God.' Oh 
weak and pmry soul, lay hold on the mighty promises of 
your heavenly Father. Carry His Word in your heart. 
' Grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth as it is 



SEEVIXG GOD OUli FIRST DUTY. 109 

in Christ Jesus.' Remember, you war not against 'flesh 
and blood." but against powers and principalities, and you 
will never overcome them in your own strength, but by 
the Word of God, which is ' sharper than any two-edged 
sword.' " 

Our Saviour overcame Satan's entreaties by quoting 
God's word, and so may we overcome him. 

•• For without me ye ran do nothing" — Jxo. xv. 5. 

A lady, in order to teach her little girl the beauty and 
truth of this text, requested her to go to the flower-bed 
and pluck the most beautiful lily and bring it to her. 
•• Now," says the mother, "just lay it down on the door- 
step in the sunshine and let it remain five minutes." 
When the child went to bring the flower to her mamma, 
she exclaimed, " Oh, mamma, see the once beautiful 
flower is withered and dead." — " Just so, my child," said 
the mother, " would you be unless God was with you 
each moment ; may this teach you a lesson, to rely on 
your heavenly Father for everything you are and have." 
The same with the Christian, let him be exposed to the 
scorching rays of sin, worldly cares, and the wiles of old 
Satan, without the dew of Christ's grace, and he can- 
not lead a godly life. But let him live in Christ's love, 
and he will ; - flourish as the Cedars of Lebanon," and in 
due time, ripen into exquisite beauty in that heavenly 
Paradise above, where the sunshine of God's countenance 
will ever fall, and where he shall bloom forever more. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PERSONAL WORK. 



" he (axdrew) first findeth his own brother si- 
mon, and saith unto him, we have found the 
messias. which is, being interpreted, the christ, 
and he brought him to jesus." 

JOHX i. 41-42. 



Ill 



PERSONAL WORK. 



" Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them 
to come in." — Luke xiv. 23. 

A young man made application to a great mercantile 
establishment for a position as salesman. " Can you sell 
goods ? " was the first question asked him. — "I can sell 
goods to a person who wishes to buy," answered the 
young man. — " So can any one," replied the merchant. 
" What we want is salesmen that can so influence our cus- 
tomers that they will buy goods, whether they want them 
or not." 

In Christian work it is easy enough to tell a soul of 
Christ who is eagerly seeking him ; but what the cause 
of (iod wants to-day is men and women to go out into 
the " highways and hedges " of sin and degradation, and, 
by their earnest life and prayers, compel them to come 
into the saving bounds of free salvation. Christ wants 
men and women who are so full of love for lost souls 
that their influence will melt the hearts of the most 
obstinate, and persuade them to take Christ as their 
Saviour. You may say, " I have not the power of 
speech," " I have a poor memory, and T cannot remember 
the Scriptures," " I am afraid I will say something I 
ought not to say," and a dozen other threadbare excuses. 

Reader, if you lack these gifts had you not better fall 
on your knees, and, like Jacob of old, wrestle with God 
in prayer, until they come ? This is the way to get 

113 



114 PJ5R80NAL WORK. 

them : this is the way to get your weapons to battle 
with. 

Satan knows you. and he makes you believe you 
can't do these things, because it is trampling upon his 
domains. 

God commands, and invites you to come to him. and 
he will supply all your needs and requirements ; bat 
long as you do not use them, lje sure he will never bestow 
them upon you. " If any of you lack wisdom, let him 
ask of God. who giveth to all men liberally, and up- 
braideth not. and it shall be given him." — Jas. i. 5. 



"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he 

shall hare abundance." — Matt. xxv. 

An eminent merchant of St Petersburg supported, 
at his own expense, a number of missionaries in India. 
Some one asked him how he could afford to do so. to 
which he replied. " Before my conversion, when I served 
the world and self. I did it on a grand scale and at the 
most lavish expense : and when Christ called me out of 
darkness. I resolved that he should have more than I had 
ever given the world. At my conversion I promised I 
would give a certain per cent of what my business 
brought me. Since that time it yields double as much." 
So it is in our service for Christ. God never allows any 
capital to lay idle, and, if we do not use the talent given 
us. he takes it. and gives it to him who will use it. How 
often do we see poor, lean Christians fretting and fuming 
and praying for more faith and more strength, when 
they sit still, and will not use what they have. 

My brother, sister, when God sees our desires and 
determinations to actively serve him with fhe first fruits 



PERSONAL WORK. 115 

of our lives, he will give us a great supply of the things 
needed. 

First show your willingness, and he will show you 
what to do, and go with you in doing it. 

" If a man <ibkle not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, 
and is withered" — Jno. xv. 6. 

The tree that bears the choicest fruit stands continu- 
ally in the sunshine, without which the fruit can never 
evenly ripen and mature. 

So he who bears heavenly fruit must continually live 
in the light of the " Sun of righteousness," without 
which he can never accomplish anything, but is as the 
severed branch, withering away. 

" If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye may 
ask what ye will, and it shall be given you." " Without 
me, ye can do nothing." 

Let us, then, be careful to go in the " strength of the 
Lord God," or our efforts to honor Christ and win souls 
will end in failure. 

"Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." 

Jas. iii. 5. 

Some years ago a lady was walking along a crowded 
street in a Southern city, and, as she passed the entrance 
of a variety theatre, she noticed a young man of unusual 
promise standing beside the door. She turned aside, and 
walked to where he stood, handing him a small gospel 
tract, with a gentle request to read it when an oppor- 
tunity presented itself. The young man, not caring to 
insult the lady, glanced about him to see if any one was 
watching him, and quickly put the tract in his pocket, 
thinking he would throw it away when the lady passed 



116 PERSONAL WORK. 

out of sight. As he stood there, it seemed as if the 
little tract was burning his pocket. He removed it, and 
then his eyes rested on a verse of Scripture which 
refused to leave him. He went to his room, and read 
and re-read the tract, telling him of Christ's wondrous 
love, and he saw himself a lost sinner. The Holy Spirit 
came to him, and removed the scales from his eyes, 
revealing the loving Christ. He gave himself to the 
Master's cause, and has been the means, in God's hands, 
of leading scores of souls to the cross of Christ. 

It was a very small act for the lady to hand the 
young man a piece of paper ; yet, many souls have been 
led to Christ by her doing so. My friend, bear in mind 
God does not despise }^our little acts of service, your 
little deeds of love, but the same may be the means of 
bringing a soul to him, and that soul may bring others, 
until multitudes may rise up and bless the day you 
kindled the fire of love in their hearts. 

God says, "My word . . . shall not return unto me 
void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it 
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 

"As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it 
abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" 

Jno. xv. 4. 

It is said of the Eev. Dr. Franklin, that his great 
passion was for fruitfulness. When about to pass to his 
eternal home, his son asked him for some word of wisdom 
as a remembrance when he was gone. Drawing his son 
close to him, he said in a faltering tone, "fruitfulness." 
The word was ever a great source of comfort to the son, 
and became the motto of his life. 

Grand motto it is : would that we all might engraft it 



ri:RSONAL WOJiK. 117 

on our hearts, and as our blessed Lord went about doing 
good, learn to k - walk even as lie walked." 

•• lie that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bring- 
est forth much fruit." The whole secret of our fruitful- 
ness is Christ for "without me ye can do nothing" are 
his own words ; but we can do all things through Christ 
which strengtheneth us. 

While our success in bearing fruit is with him, the 
success of his cause on earth depends on our faithfulness 
to him. Let us then, kind reader, make " fruitfuluess " 
our motto, and go forth with renewed energy bearing 
fruit for the master. 

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening with- 
hold not thine hand" — Ecl. xi. 6. 

There is a custom among the older farmers of our coun- 
try to plant certain vegetables at a particular sign of the 
moon, and it matters not how suitable may be the time 
or the condition of the soil, they will not plant until the 
" sign gets right." ISTow that is just the way with a great 
many Christians, they sit around with folded hands wait- 
ing for the sign to get right before they thrust in the 
sickle for Christ. And with many the sign has never be- 
come right, and never will. "In the morning sow th}^ 
seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand." 

With such an one the sign is always right. The power 
of God is always present. 

Then, too, a great many Christians think that the sign 
is right only once in the year. At the annual revival the 
sign is right for them to work, and at any other season 
it is not their duty to do anything but listen from Sab- 
bath to Sabbath to the pastor, as he labors in fanning the 
smoldering coals to keep them from dying out until the 
next revival. 



118 PERSONAL WORK. 

Brother, sister, this is a low conception of the religion 
of a crucified Christ. 

This is a wrong construction placed on the duties of a 
professing Christian. 

This is the reverse of the Scriptural delineation of 
service in the Master's cause. 

" Daily follow me." What the world needs is men and 
women to daily — hourly — live to him, and make their 
religion a part of their lives. 

"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a 
crown of life." — Rev. ii. 10. 

" Exert your talents/'' said Dr. Samuel Johnson, " and 
distinguish yourself. Do not think of retiring from the 
world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I 
hate a man whom pride, or cowardice, or laziness drives 
into a corner, and who does nothing while there but sit 
and growl." 

Activity is the key to a useful Christian life. The key 
to activity is opening the doors of our hearts, and letting 
the river of Christ's love constantly flow through. 

Our realization of Christ's love prompts us to love our 
fellow-man, and strive to lighten his burden. 

Then, too, the best way to be active in God's service is 
to embrace every opportunity to do our fellow-man all 
the good we can, knowing that he that is faithful unto 
death shall be given a crown of life. 

" Thou shalt tell them. Thus saith the Lord. " 

Jer. xv. 2. 

A minister in one of the Northern States was called, as 

pastor, to a church in a thrifty little town. When he 

arrived he was told that there was a tailor living in the 

town who was a noted infidel, and was ready to insult 



PB&SONAL WOBK. 119 

any one who introduced the subject of religion in his 
presence. The pastor went one day, and during conver- 
sation with the infidel introduced the subject of religion. 
The infidel said, " Sir, if your religion is what you tell 
me it is, and does what you claim for it. why do not 
your people believe it ? " 

•• I do not understand you," said the pastor. 

••Why. if your religion is so wonderful, do not your 
people believe in it ? " said the tailor. kk Here I have been 
wishing some one would come and talk with me, but not 
one has ever done so. I have waited, watched, and 
longed, but no one came."' 

Oh, my Christian friend, how do you know but some 
soul near you is longing to know Christ, and to lay the 
burden of his guilt on Him. How many souls would 
yield did you and I but do our duty, and personally strive 
with them. 

How many convicted, seeking souls are haunted to de- 
spair, and no one comes to bring them to Christ. Oh ! 
that we might awake to our personal duty, and make it 
a rule to inquire of those around us if they have a hope 
in Christ ; show them that we have an interest in their 
eternal welfare ; show them that Christ, and we too, love 
their souls, no matter how deep in sin they are. This is 
your duty, Christian friend, as a member of the house- 
hold of the redeemed in Christ Jesus. 

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, 
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or 
lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, 
and shall inherit everlasting life." — Matt. xix. 29. 

A few years ago a bright and wayward Cuban landed 
friendless and penniless in the city of New York. 

After roaming about the streets for some days, he was 



120 PERSONAL WORK. 

taken with fever, and conveyed to the hospital, where 
for weeks he was on the verge of the grave. • A kind 
Christian lady, made it a point to go to the hospital, and 
while the physical ills were being treated, she pointed 
them to the Great Physician. She talked with this 
yonng Cuban, and she found that he was interested ; 
before she left him she put into his hand a copy of the 
New Testament ; he read it, and ere long, light dawned 
upon his dark heart, and he rejoiced in faith in Christ. 
When he recovered, so great was the love of Christ in 
his heart that he sailed for his native island to preach 
Christ to his kindred and friends. He endured all kinds 
of persecutions, but never shirked his duty, and preached 
Christ the more earnestly. 

His own mother for months refused to speak to him. 
His dearest friends forsook him, but he kept on preach- 
ing, and after several months he saw one by one of his 
friends and countrymen melt under the spirit, and give 
their hearts to Jesus, until to-day nearly ten thousand 
have been converted. 

Dear Christian friend, this is the spirit with which to 
serve Christ. Very seldom does it become necessary to 
sever family ties, but when it is so, we are commanded 
to do it, and in doing so we have this great promise 
from God Almighty, " / will not leave thee nor forsake 
thee." 

" Cast thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find 
it after many days." — Ecl. xi. 1. 

Dr. Bainbridge preached once in San Francisco. Some 
time afterward an officer of a vessel came to him and 
said, " Mr. Bainbridge, you do not recognize me, but I 
once heard you preach a sermon that went direct to my 
heart, and proved just the food for which my soul 



PEIiSONAL WORK. 121 

craved, and led me to the saving power of the Lamb of 
God. I want to personally thank yon for that sermon." 
So the bread cast upon the waters had returned after 
many days. And so it is with our sowing the seeds of 
the Gospel ; we may not live to see the result, but God 
will not let his " word return unto him void." It is not 
our office nor duty to attend to that, but it is our bounden 
duty to sow — sow — sow. " In the morning sow thy 
seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand." 

This is the one grand object of our earthly existence. 



" I will meditate also of all thy ivork, and talk of thy 
doings.'- — Ps. lxxvii. 12. 

" A. little boy, whose delight it was to sit on his 
mother's knee and hear the story of Jesus, one day went 
to his grandmother and said, ' Grandmother, why is it I 
never hear men talk of Jesus ? I hear them talk of 
everything else, seldom ever did I hear them talk of 
Jesus, unless it was in the church or Sunday-schools ; 
don't they love him ? ' " 

Oh. what a stinging rebuke, brother ! Can it be said 
truthfully of you ? and do you delight, with the Psalm- 
ist, in " talking of thy doings ? " Do you delight in the 
cross of Christ, and ardently long to make his glories 
known to those around you ? 

Remember how closely the world is watching you, and 
Satan uses your lack of enthusiasm in his arguments 
against God's cause. 

Therefore, let the words of your mouth and the 
thoughts of your heart show forth the glory of your cru- 
cified and risen Lord, " Tell them what great things the 
Lord hath done for thee." 



122 PERSONAL WOEK. 

• k Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him 
vrill I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." 

Matt. x. 32. 

A Koman emperor said to a Greek architect, " Build 
me a coliseum — a grand coliseum, and if it suits me 
I will crown you in the presence of all the people, 
and I will make a great day of festival on your account,*' 
The architect did his work — did it magnificently, 
planned the building, and looked after its construction. 
The building was finished, the opening day arrived, the 
emperor and the architect were in the coliseum. Amid 
loud cheers, the emperor arose and announced that the 
day was set apart in honor of the Greek architect, and 
everything must be done to his honor. " Let us make 
merry and enjoy ourselves ; bring out those Christians, 
and let us see the lions destroy them." A group of 
imprisoned Christians were led forth, and a number of 
half-starved lions turned loose among them. They were 
soon devoured, and the architect slowly arose, and in a 
firm though gentle voice said, " I, too, am a Christian." 
The howling mob seized him and flung him to the fierce 
beasts, who soon tore his limbs from his body. 

This is confession, true and undefiled. It is easy 
enough to confesc Christ before our own church and 
friends, but do we confess him among those that revile 
him ? Do we go among men that despise his precepts, 
and by our very life tell of him ? If we do not, we do 
not do our duty as his followers. The confession that 
pleases him is to " let our light so shine before men, 
that they will be led to glorify our Father which is 
in heaven." 

" Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also 
deny before my Father." 



1'h'llsoXAL WORK. 123 

11 Let us consider one another to provoke unto love, and 
to good works" — Heb. x. 24. 

A man who was very sad, once heard two boys 
laughing, and asked them, " What makes you so happy ? " 
u Happy," said the elder boy, "why, in making Jim glad, 
I get glad myself." 

This is the true secret of a useful and happy life, to 
make others happy. To so direct our ways and aims 
that our example, our kind words, our pleasant smiles, 
and our sympathies, may fall on some one else and pro- 
voke him also to good works. To lead lost souls to 
the true happiness in Christ Jesus, and rejoice with 
them. To rescue from degradation, a fallen brother and 
rejoice with him in his new-found peace. There never 
was a "truer saying than this, " He that makes others 
happy will himself not be unhappy." The magnetic key 
in Christ's journej'ings in the world, "He went about 
doing good." Healing the sick, comforting the bereaved, 
opening the eyes of the blind, raising up the fallen, 
speaking peace to the distressed, guiding the seeker unto 
life eternal, giving the water of life to the thirsty. He 
loved the souls of men. Therefore "let us consider one 
another, to provoke unto love, and to good works." 

How quickly a poor, fallen, degraded, sin-soiled soul, 
will melt under the influence of love. Convince him that 
with all his filth and sins. Christ loves his soul, and that 
you love his soul. My Christian friend, if you ever win 
a soul to Christ it will be through this word LOVE. 

This is the flower from the Garden of God, and a 
flower that needs to be cultivated among Christians. 
Love made a full and free salvation, love redeemed you 
from eternal death, love will bear you over life's fitful 
sea and land you on the shores of the reality of heaven. 



124 PERSONAL WORK. 

" Beloved let us love one another ; for love is of God ; 
and ever}' one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth 
God.'' " and if God so loved us we ought also to love one 
another." 

" I will give unto him that isathirst, of the fountain of 
the water of life freely" — Eev. xxi. 6. 

•• A gentleman stopping at a noted watering-place, 
went one morning to one of the springs, for a draught 
of water. While there, a lady came also for a draught of 
the cooling, sparkling water ; the aged Christian turned 
to her and asked her if she had ever drunk at the Great 
Fountain. The lady turned and walked away without 
answering the question. Xot many months after, the 
gentleman was attending a meeting for religious confer- 
ence and prayer ; while there a request came for him to 
visit a lady in the town, who was dying. As he entered 
the dying lady's chamber, she fastened her eyes on him, 
and said with a smile, ' Do you recognize me ? ' The 
gentleman was forced to answer in the negative ; when 
the lady said, 'Do you remember asking a lady last 
spring, if she had ever drunk at the Great Fountain ? ' 
'Yes,' said the gentleman, 'I remember that.' 'Well, 
sir, I am that person. I thought at the time you were 
very rude, but your words rang in my ears and I was 
without peace or rest, until I found Christ ; I now expect 
to soon pass to my Saviour. I wanted to encourage you 
by telling you, that under God you were instrumental in 
bringing me to Christ ; be faithful to others as you have 
been to me.' " 

There is a class of work which only a personal effort 
can accomplish. In this case, had not the godly man 
personally sown the seed of eternal life, the dying lady 
probably would have never been saved. Every converted 



PERSONAL WOIiK. 125 

man or woman, boy or girl, is a preacher, and bound by 
the ties of God's love to preach a personal Saviour, in a 
personal way. and urge a personal acceptance of him. 
This is a class of work the minister, the pastor, can never 
accomplish, and the responsibility rests on your shoulders 
and mine, dear reader. 

" Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit 
down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the king- 
dom of Heaven." — Matt. viii. 11 

Mrs. Stowe tells the following of a poor slave who was 
brought to this country and sold into a Christian family. 
One day she heard her mistress telling the children of 
Jesus, and said, " Me know him." The mistress asked 
in her surprise, " When did you know him ? " " Fore 
me came here," was the reply, and she went on to tell 
her story, how years before, her husband and children 
were kidnapped, and torn from her humble home. For 
days she walked up and down the beach wringing her 
hands in grief ; at last some one came to her and told 
her to kneel down and look up to the sky, and comfort 
would come to her broken heart. She did so, and peace 
came to her troubled soul. And when she heard the lady 
telling of Jesus, she knew it was he who so lovingly 
had taken away her burden. 

It is our duty to sow the seeds of life eternal and trust 
God to so increase the growth, as seemeth good in his 
sight. The Christian who pointed this poor heathen to 
Christ probably never saw or heard of her again ; but 
God, who will not let his word return unto him void, 
made it the power to win her to Christ. 

What a glorious surprise awaits some of God's dear 
children, as the truth shall on that day be revealed, and 
the thanks of angelic hosts greet their ears as the means 



126 PERSONAL WORK. 

of bringing them to Christ. My brother, my sister, don't 
you want to be one of the number ? 

If so, spread the " glad tidings," make it the one theme 
of your life to confess Christ and tell of his love. 

'• Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and 
teach thee what thou shalt say." — Exod. iv. 12. 

One afternoon Mr. Moody was being driven, by a 
Christian gentleman, to a town where he was to conduct 
revival sendees. They passed, on their way, a school- 
house situated in the midst of a rich farming country ; 
at the next farmhouse, Mr. Moody halted, and inquired 
of the lady if they ever held any religious meetings in 
the vicinity. She replied that they did not. Mr. Moody 
then said, " Tell everybody you see that there will be a 
prayer-meeting at the schoolhouse every night next week." 
The announcement was soon spread over the neighbor- 
hood. Mr. Moody's companion, knowing he had an 
engagement for every evening" the following week, asked 
him who was to lead the meetings. "You are, sir," 
replied the great evangelist. — " I ! " cried the astonished 
man. "I never did such a thing in my life." — "It is 
high time you commenced. I have made the appoint- 
ment, and you must keep it." The timid man acqui- 
esced, led the services, which resulted in a precious 
revival, and scores of souls were saved. My friend, we 
each have a work to do : how prone are we to shrink from 
duty. Xo man living could have taken the place of this 
Christian gentleman who stood in the Spirit before this 
people. Xo one living can do the work God says you 
must do ; if you go to judgment with it undone, be sure 
an accounting will there be required for the talents 
entrusted to your keeping. I know what it is to be held 



PERSONAL WORK. 127 

back from duty by Satan. He is ever telling us, "Oh, 
you can't preach, or pray, or sing, or testify ! " God will 
put words into our mouths, if we show a determination 
to preach Christ. "For I will give you a mouth and 
wisdom," and " I will give thee the opening of the mouth 
in the midst of them." 

Dear reader, the word of God abounds in like prom- 
ises ; but to know their full meaning it is necessary that 
we first prove our desire for working for Christ before 
they will ever be made applicable to us. 



" Herein is oar love made perfect!''' — 1 John iv. 17. 

True love and childlike faith is beautifully illustrated 
by the following little incident: " A little girl, who loved 
her Saviour very much for having so loved her, came one 
day to her pastor with a dollar and a half for a mission- 
ary society. "How did you collect so much? Is it all 
your own ? " asked the pastor. The little girl replied, 
" Yes, sir, I earned all of it." — " But how, Mary, did 
you do ? " The child hung her head a moment in 
thought, and replied, "I thought how Jesus had suffered 
and died for me, and I wanted to do something for him. 
A s I had no money, I earned this by collecting rain water, 
and selling it to a washerwoman at a penny a bucketful." 
— "I am thankful," said the pastor, " that your love for 
Christ has led you to labor so long and so earnestly for 
him." Friend, in just such deeds as this is our love 
made perfect. It is not necessary to do some great act 
in order to serve Christ. He will never despise any 
deeds, however small, provided we do them in the spirit 
of love ; and in such a spirit only can our love be made 
perfect, and our service made acceptable unto him. 



128 PERSONAL WORK. 

" Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for 
^66."— MaKK v. 19. 

A young lady sat in her room one day reading her 
Bible, and came to these words : " Tell them what great 
things the Lord hath done for thee." The words rang in 
her ears, and refused to leave her, until she resolved she 
would speak to the first person she met on her way down 
town. Closing her book, she donned her wraps, and 
stepped into the street just as a young man, who was 
one of her particular friends, was passing. As they 
walked along together she tried hard to find courage to 
speak to him ; but each time Satan would say, wait. 
When they came to the place of separation they lingered 
a moment, and she said, " George, I want to tell you 
about my friend, — one that has been so kind and good 
to me, and one whom you would enjoy to know, and 
whose influence you so much need.'' Her companion 
listened with unusual earnestness. " George. I want to 
see you under the care and influence of my Saviour. 
Won't you. now. just give up all, and take hold on him ? " 

The young man was deeply impressed, and promised 
to seriously meditate on such a step, at the same time 
informing his friend that he would leave town next day 
to be gone some time in the interest of his employer. 
The young lady passed on down the street to attend some 
business, thinking little more about the young man. 
until, a few days after, when a small note was handed 
her, bearing these words : " Mamie, I accepted your great 
Friend as my friend, too : am saved. Oh, how glad 
that you told me of him. Your friend. George." The 
words were written as he lay dying in a railroad wreck. 
Christian brother, sister, how many unsaved that are 
daily going to perdition would be saved, if you and I 



PEBSONAL WORK. 129 

would do our duty in telling them of Jesus, and of what 
great things he has done in saving us ! 

How many could be turned did we thrust the love of a 
crucified Lord in their pathway, and turn them heaven- 
ward. 

" Cast thy bread upon the icaters : for thou shalt find 
it after many days." — Ecl. xi. 1. 

Some years ago a Christian lady making a missionary 
visit wrote these words, " The master is come and call- 
eth for thee," upon a small slip of paper, and laid it upon 
the bookshelf of a poor family on whom she had called. 
Some time after her visit the mother was searching for 
something, when the slip of paper fell to the floor ; she 
picked it up and read it, at the same time wondering 
where it came from. 

Her son, a bright lad, in the bloom of youth, came in, 
and the mother handed the slip to him, telling him it had 
been found on the floor. The lad took it, and read, " The 
master is come, and calleth for thee." The call went 
direct to his heart. He found no rest until Christ came 
to him and took his burden away. He grew to manhood, 
embarked in mercantile pursuits, but louder and louder 
came the call, " The master is come, and calleth for thee." 
He disposed of his business, and became an earnest 
preacher of the gospel. One day the announcement was 

made that Mr. would preach at the village church 

on a certain Sabbath morning. The man of God chose 
for his text, " The master is come, and calleth for thee." 
The spirit came in great power. A gracious revival 
followed. 

Among his hearers on that Sabbath morning was an 
aged lady to whose memory came the incident related, 
and who. years before, had laid the shp of paper upon the 



130 PER SOX AL WORK 

bookshelf, with an earnest prayer. Oh what exquisite 
joy must have come to the heart of that aged servant 
as the scene just related flashed over her mind Trusting 
brother, sister, we may never know in this life, the re- 
sult of our sowing. We may never see, this side of eter- 
nity, the ripening of our planting of heavenly fruits ; but 
bear in mind that " The Lord thy God shall bless thee in 
thy works, and in all that thou putt est thine hand unto." 
And when we awake in Christ's glory there will be un- 
folded, to our now clouded vision, the unspeakable glory 
of a life of service for Christ. 

" Though scoffers ask. Avhere is your gain ? 
And mockers say your work is vain, 
Such scoffers die. and are forgot ; 
Work done for God, it dieth not." 

" Press on, press on, nor doubt nor fear, 
From age to age, this voice shall cheer : 
Whate'er may die, and be forgot, 
Work done for God, it dieth not."' 

" The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the 
learned, that Lshouldknoc: how to speak a word in season 
to him that is weary?" 1 — Isa. 1. 4. 

It is said of Mr. John Yassar, that he could not be in 
the company of a man half an hour without trying to 
bring him to Christ. 

On one occasion he visited a town, some distance from 
his home, to aid in a gospel meeting. As he and the 
pastor were walking from the station to the latter's resi- 
dence, they passed a blacksmith shop on the way. 
'•There,". said the pastor, "is a scoffer, and one of the 
most wicked of men. I would be glad if you would talk 



PER80NAL WORK. 131 

with him before you leave town." — "Dear man," said 
Mr. Vassar. " I will go now. Where is the blacksmith ? " 
The pastor led the way to the shop, and found the smith 
very busy, and customers waiting to get work done. Mr. 
Vassar walked direct to the smith, who left his work, and 
listened very earnestly to the godly man's words ; in a 
few moments they went behind the forge, and both knelt 
down. The influence of Mr. Vassar so completely over- 
came the man that he yielded, and gave his heart to 
Christ. 

Dear reader, are yon using the tongue God gave you in 
speaking words of comfort to weary sin-sick souls ? 

Oh, how oft do we hear Christians say, " I can't talk to 
sinners. " My friend, you can excuse yourself with men, 
but "can'ts" do not count with God. He says, "I will 
be thy. mouth." Go. then, in the name of Christ, and the 
words you shall speak will be as "good seed, sown in 
good ground." bearing a precious harvest of fruit. Mr. 
Vassar took God at his word, and his influence with sin- 
ners was wonderful. Can you find an excuse why your 
life should not be such a living monument to the love of 
Christ ? If not, then cast in thy sickle for the Lord. 

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of 
the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, 
as the stars for ever and ever." — Dan. xii. 3. 

"lie that v-innetJi souls is wise." — Prov. xi. 30. 

"He that is v:ise winneth souls." — Rev. Veb. 

There is a story of a despondent Christian who thought 
his work a failure. ( hie night, it is said, he had a dream ; 
he dreamed that he was dead, and that angels came and 
wafted him over the dark river to the city of God. There 
he met an old friend ; and as they walked along the crystal 



182 PEES ON AL WORK. 

pavements together, he noticed every one turn suddenly, 
and look in the same direction. They saw, as the golden 
chariot rolled up, the blessed Jesus. When opposite 
them, he beckoned the friend to get into the chariot 
while he took the dreamer aside, and pointing afar off he 
asked him what he saw. The dreamer replied that his 
eyes rested upon what looked like the world from which 
he came. " And what else ? " asked the Saviour. " I see 
further on, a great pit." " And what else ? " asked his 
Lord. "I see great multitudes of men rushing hither 
and thither as if blindfolded. Many are falling into the 
awful pit, others are on the very brink." — " Well," said 
the Christ, " would you stay here in this haven of bliss, 
and see countless thousands fall headlong into that gaping 
abyss, and you not turn a hand to stop their mad career ? " 

The dreamer begged to be sent to warn them of their 
doom, and to make amends for his life of neglect. 

Keader, such is a true picture, that is about you to-day. 
A gaping abyss, and countless thousands falling headlong 
into it. 

What is your duty ? Is it to sit with folded hands, or 
is it to throw the seeds of life in their pathway, and hin- 
der all you can, their rapid progress ? You cannot save 
all of them, but you may be the means of rescuing one, 
— yea two, — possibly many. "He that winneth souls 



" Go home to thy friends, and tell them hoic great things 
the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had com%>assion on 
thee." — Mark v. 19. 

A gentleman of great wealth and social position, resid- 
ing in one of the suburbs of London, was suddenly 
stricken down with a dangerous disease. The elegant 



PERSONAL WORK. 133 

and happy home was transformed into one of anxiety and 
mourning. The devoted wife, fearing the result of her 
idolized companion's illness, begged that a clergyman be 
summoned ; but the husband rather abruptly replied, 
" Xo, send for our coachman." Anxious to gratify every 
wish, the coachman was hastily summoned, and soon 
stood at the bedside of his sick master. " John," said 
the sick man, " not long since I heard you, standing in a 
wagon, preach to a crowd of poor people. You did not 
see me, for I stood behind you, and heard every word 
you said. You told them how Christ had saved you, and 
that he was able and willing to save every one. I have 
sent for you, that you may prove out of the Bible the 
truth of your sermon." The coachman opened his Bible, 
and began to read of the great love of God in giving his 
Son to save mankind. He proved to his master what he 
had on a former occasion preached, and convinced him 
that we are not saved by doing, but by believing in the 
Lord Jesus Christ. The gentleman took God at his 
word, gave himself entirely into his hands, and ere many 
days was recovered, and began active service in leading 
souls to Christ. He went to an intimate friend, who 
yielded to the call, and gave his life to preaching the 
Word to dying souls. 

Thus the coachman's testimony bore rich fruit. Then 
too, he started a wave of influence that has rolled on and 
on, and scores of souls found eternal life by his telling 
what great things the Lord had done for him. Oh ! my 
Christian reader, are you telling the world what pre- 
ciousness you have enjoyed by having your sins blotted 
out ? Would to God Ave were more awakened to this 
important duty. Would to God, our hearts were more 
ablaze with the fire of his love, that we would tell 
those around us " what great things he hath done for us." 



134 PEB<OXAL WOBK. 

"Your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

1 Cob. xv. 58. 

A gentleman, passing along the streets of one of our 
magnificent cities some years ago, held in his hand a 
small religious tract. His eye fell on a promising young 
man. standing beside the passageway, and as he passed 
by him, he handed him the tract, with the request he 
would carefully read it. The young man, for curiosity's 
sake, accepted the paper, and promised to do so. He sat 
down and read and re-read it, saw in himself a great sin- 
ner, and a heart as black as the blackest darkness. He 
resolved in his heart to seek Christ with all his soul. 
Peace soon dawned upon him, he rejoiced, and was glad, 
he forsook his old street-loafing habits, and devoted his 
life to preaching Christ to sinners. To-day he stands 
among the ablest and most earnest men in our country. 

Christian brother, sister, let us never weary in our 
efforts in sowing the seeds of eternal life. We may 
never see the result of our labors until we reach heaven, 
and find this one, and that one pointing us out, and say- 
ing. He led me to Christ. Oh. what honor ! as I stand in 
the sight and presence of the living God, to have some 
saved soul take me by the hand and say, You turned 
my feet from the ways of hell to heaven. But that 
is not all. Christ says, •• Your labor shall be rewarded." 

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, im- 
movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for- 
asmuch as ye knoic that your labor is not in vain in the 
Lord" — 1 Cor. xv. 58. 

The writer of these lines was standing on the street 
corner one evening about eight o'clock. It was a bitter 
cold night, the thermometer registered near 30° below 



ri:nsoxAL work. ]:;;, 

zero. The bright, electric light, shining- on the snow- 
covered surroundings made a picture" not within the 

power of the artist to portray. As he stood there hand- 
ing each passer-by a printed invitation to attend gospel 
services, held in the vicinity, a middle-aged man came 
rushing along, as if in search of something. As lie 
reached forth his hand to take the paper handed him, he 
halted to read it, then asked where the room was in 
which the services convened. As the writer walked 
down the street with him, he said he had for some time 
past felt the need of a Saviour. His soul had been ill at 
ease. He longed for some servant of God to speak to 
him, but none came. He added, " At times I thought 
how careless Christians must be ; then again I would think 
that the hereafter must be a myth ; but my conscience 
said, ' No, it is real.' " He was lead to Christ, and to-day 
is a living witness to his saving grace. 

Christian friend, we that profess Christ are too care- 
less. We do not know the thoughts of those around us. 
May this illustration teach us to " watch " and to speak 
often to those with whom we come in contact, and to pay 
more attention to sowing the seeds of life eternal, and 
less to the results of the harvest. 

" I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and 
of thy tcondrous works" — Ps. clxv. 5. 

In a New England town, a gracious revival was in 
progress, and in order to invite many who did not attend 
the services, the Christians called a meeting to divide the 
town into districts, and assign each member a certain 
portion of the town, to personally invite every one to 
attend the services at the church. Among those that 
were appointed to "go out into the highways and 



136 PERSONAL iVOEK. 

hedges," was a poor, ignorant man. who felt he could not 
perform the task assigned him. 

In his district lived a man noted for his wickedness 
and hatred of all religious objects. The missionary 
called at the home of this man and. to his great relief, 
found that he had gone to the field near by to attend to 
some work. He left, feeling greatly relieved, and con- 
gratulated himself that he had so easily escaped the 
taunts and abusive language of the man. But before he 
had gone far, his conscience smote him for his thoughts, 
and he turned to search for the man. Just then, he saw 
him coming toward him. He exchanged greetings, and 
in simple, earnest words, told him that he had come to 
extend to him a personal invitation to attend the meet- 
ings at the church, that many blessings had been be- 
stowed upon them, and that they felt a deep interest in 
him, and that earnest prayers had ascended to the throne 
of grace in his behalf. As the man continued his simple, 
earnest pleadings, he noticed the reviler turn his face 
from him that his emotions might be hid ; turning sud- 
denly, he said. " I have wondered why some of you Chris- 
tians did not come to see me. I have hoped and expected 
you ; I am so glad you have come. I will go mime diately 
and attend the meeting." He did go, and became a liv- 
ing witness to the saving power of Christ. My dear 
Christian reader, from this simple narrative may we not 
take new courage and let no opportunity pass, of speak- 
ing to some unsaved soul. God says, " I will not let my 
word return unto me void." Some of us say, "The way 
does not seem clear. I can't do it/' My dear friend. God 
will gladly open the way for us if we make a start, but 
he never removes the obstruction until we come to it. 
The Red Sea was not opened until the Israelites came to 
its banks. God never leaves capital lying idle. If we 



PERSONAL WORK. 137 

poorly invest the few talents left ns, he will withhold his 
treasury from us, but if we use what we have, he will 
abundantly supply us with all the capital that we can 
use. Let us then cease not to speak of "the glorious 
honor of his majesty." the unsearchable riches of his love, 
and the wondrous working of the Spirit in the heart. 

" Let your light so shine before men, that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven." — Matt. v. 16. 

While Mr. Moody was conducting revival services in 
London, several years ago, a well-known sporting charac- 
ter was led to Christ and became an earnest worker in 
saving souls. The converted man had two sons, whom 
he was educating in his wicked ways — their father's ex- 
ample led them to accept Christ, also a companion, who 
had been their bosom friend. The three young men gave 
themselves to the cause of Christ, and are to-day success- 
ful missionaries. The light of God shining through the 
father led the sons to devote their lives to glorifying God. 
Reader, how many have seen your godly life and are to- 
day rejoicing in Christ, while another bright star has 
been placed in your heavenly crown ? 

" The Lord seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh 
on the outward a})pearance, but the Lord looketh on the 
heart. 1 " — 1 Sam. xvi. 7. 

A little shepherd boy was keeping his sheep one Sab- 
bath morning. The church bells were pealing forth their 
summons to the house of worship. The lad saw people 
wending their way thither. The beauty of the sight 
overcame him, and, for the first time in his life, he felt it 
his duty to worship his Maker. But what could he say ? 



138 per soy AL WORK. 

he had never learned any prayers ; he had never knelt at 
a mother's knee. He knelt down on the green grass, and 
began repeating the alphabet from A to Z. A gentleman 
passing along the road was attracted by the boy"s voice, 
and halted to listen. He heard the lad repeat over and 
over the alphabet. '-What are you doing, my little 
man ? " he asked. The boy looked up in surprise, and, 
in his childlike simplicity, said, '-Please, sir, I was pray- 
ing. I felt that I would like to pray, and I did not know 
anything to pray, so I prayed the A B C." How many 
professing Christians refuse to pray in public because 
they are afraid their words will not be so beautiful as 
their neighbors. Friend, take this text with }~ou, and 
meditate upon it. 

" My word . . . shall not return unto me void" 

Isa. ]v. 11. 

A Christian missionary was canvassing a sparsely 
settled district in one of our now prominent States. In 
a small receptacle he carried some little tracts with 
pointed texts printed thereon. 

He called one day at a cabin by the roadside, but found 
its occupants absent. He drew from his pouch a tract, 
and passed it under the door. The family soon returned 
home, and the father stopped as he passed in, and picked 
up the tract. As a verse of Scripture met his eye, he 
became very wroth, and stamped and swore and raved 
like a madman. A little girl of the household begged 
him to let her have the paper, and that night she 
requested her father to read it to them, the others being 
unable to read. At first he refused, but, as it was a 
request from his favorite child, he finally complied with 
her wishes. When the family were gathered around the 
great log fire, the father read aloud of the love of God 



PERSONAL WORK. 139 

in giving his Son to suffer and die for us that we might 
be saved. The teachings of earlier days came to him: 
his thoughts ran back to the long ago ; when, around his 
father's hearthstone, he had so often heard the very same 
story. The Spirit touched the poor father's heart, and 
Christ's mercy came as a flash of light, and settled on 
him. The next evening he read again the tract, and re- 
read it to his family, explaining in his plain, simple way. 
Then they knelt around the new altar, and he poured 
out his soul to God. Before many days he saw his entire 
household rejoicing in Christ, and living to honor G-od. 
We should never weary in telling souls of Christ's love. 
At times the outlook may seem dark, but God's word 
cannot return bearing no fruit. Let us sow daily some 
seed, and in the Master's own good time the harvest will 
ripen^unto the salvation of some lost soul, and unto his 
own name, honor and glory. 

"Go thou and preach the kingdom of G-odP 

Luke ix. 60. 
There is an old story of an Arab poet who was con- 
verted to Christianity. The missionary requested him 
to compose for him a poem on the duties of a Christian 
missionary. He wrote the following, which, when trans- 
lated, reads, — 

" Go on, go on, go on, go on, 
Go on, go on, go on, 
Go on, go on, go on, go on, 
Go on, go on, go on." 

It should be the motto of every Christian. As we see 
the thousands on our right and on our left fast going to 
destruction, it surely is time for us to "go on, go on," 
and ••preach the kingdom of God." 



CHAPTER IX. 



PRAYER. 



"pray without ceasing.' 

1 Thes. v. 17. 
141 



PRAYER. 



" Yea, I icill sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning." 

Ps. lix. 16. 

It is said of King Alfred the Great that before he took 
up the daily cares of his kingdom, he spent some time 
alone in singing praises to God, and imploring divine 
guidance upon his daily life. 

How much lighter would be the cares of every child of 
God if they would, as they rise in the morning, implore 
divine guidance, and seek the sleepless eye of God to 
follow them through the duties and busy scenes of life. 
How many crooked paths would never be made, if we 
only besought the guidance of him that never errs. 

" Pray that ye enter not into temptation." 

Luke. xxii. 40. 

There is a custom among the Breton sailors, when 
launching their boats, to offer this prayer, " Keep me, 
my God ; my boat is so small, and thy ocean is so wide." 

The life of a Christian may be likened unto a frail 
bark cast upon the mighty ocean, which unless rightly 
steered may run into some contrary current that will 
toss it about and turn its course. In this great ocean of 
ungodliness, it is necessary to pray that the current of 
sin does not turn us from our course. " Pray that ye 
enter not into temptation,*' and if ye do, '• call upon me 
in the day of trouble, and L will deliver thee," saith the 
Lord. 

143 



144 PRAYER. 

"Pray without ceasing. 1 '' — 1 Thes. v. IT. 

Among the Japanese people there is a certain sect 
whose religion compels them, on rising each morning, to 
make some ejaculatory prayer, lifting up the ringers 
of the right hand. They imagine by this devout precau- 
tion they frustrate the wicked devices of the devil, and 
insure the guidance of their gods. 

How appropriate at the early dawn to assemble, before 
our minds are engrossed with the cares of the day, and 
seek divine guidance of him whose eye is ever upon us ; 
and plead for strength to frustrate Satan's devices. 
" Pray that ye enter not into temptation," Implore the 
light of Christ's presence to go before you each day and 
hour. 

"I had rather speak five words with my understanding, 
that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thou- 
sand words in an unknown tongue." — 1 Con.sxiv. 19. 

" It is related of the Buddhists that they write their 
prayers upon long, narrow slips of paper, and wind this 
around a cylinder. Each revolution of the cylinder 
counts for the repetition of all these prayers, so it is only 
necessary to occasionally give the machine a turn, and 
thereby secure the benefit of yards of prayers. 

" Some, it is said, go so far as to apply to these prayer 
cylinders, water power, or other mechanical contrivances, 
and while they are busy with worldly matters, their de- 
votional exercises are still going on." 

How often are we led to doubt God when we do not 
see an immediate answer to our mechanical prayer. 
How very foolish would some of our prayers seem even 
to us could we read them as they have been repeated by 
us, in our half-earnest way. Christ says, " When thou 



P BAYER. 145 

prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thon hast shut 
the door (to exclude every worldly care and thought), 
pray to thy Father." etc. 

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail- 
eth much." — Jas. v. 16. 

We are told that Mary, Queen of Scotland, who desired 
to establish papacy in that country, once said, "I fear 
the prayers of John Knox more than an army of ten 
thousand men/' 

How carefully doth the Lord God guard his people. 
What mighty defences lie in righteousness and the favor 
of Jehovah ; what sweet comfort in the thought that the 
selfsame God that closed the mouth of the lions and 
delivered Daniel — that hushed the flames and brought 
forth the Hebrew children — is our God. We may 
safely trust him at all times, and in all places. 

" The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man 
availeth much. It penetrates the very heart of Jesus 
Christ, and moves his sympathetic hand to our aid. 

" The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail- 
eth much." — Jas. v. 16. 

Some years ago a minister was invited to hold revival 
services in a frontier neighborhood. On his arrival at 
the little cabin called a church, he met a company of 
Christian men and women praying for the outpouring of 
the Holy Spirit. The revival continued many days, and 
scores were brought to the fold of Christ. In the vicin- 
ity lived a young man. whose praying mother had daily 
begged him to attend the meeting, only to be ridiculed 
for her foolish entreaties. In order to escape the influ- 
ence of the Christian community, he left the neighbor- 



146 PRAYER. 

hood, saying that he had to attend to some business 
in another village. Many were the earnest prayers 
offered for him. In a very short time he returned home 
to tell of his miserable condition of soul and body. The 
spirit had been striving with him, and he found no 
peace ; he arranged to start the next day in an opposite 
direction, on the pretence of attending to some other 
business ; in a day or two he again returned, even more 
miserable than before. He could no longer carry the 
burden of his guilt, and he resolved to find Christ and lay 
his load upon his strong shoulders ; he attended the revi- 
val service, and asked the way of life. The glorious 
peace of a penitent's pardon came to him, and he became 
an earnest and an active worker in the master's cause. 
The prayers of the mother were answered even to a 
greater degree than she had anticipated. 

How many pangs of heart over our children and loved 
ones would we be spared if we could but learn to go to 
God with our troubles, and pour out our souls in 
effectual fervent prayer for our loved ones. " The 
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
much." 

" Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he 
will give it youT — Jxo. xvi. 23. 

Two little brothers in a western State, who had heard 
wonderful stories of Santa Claus, conceived the idea of 
making their wants known in a way as impressive as it 
is novel. Their mother had taught them that God was 
always ready to answer prayer. One afternoon, just 
before Christmas, their mother missed them from the 
sitting-room, and began to search for them. Before she 
had searched far, she was attracted by their voices to an 
adjoining room ; silently opening the door, she paused 



PRAYER. 147 

to listen, only to be dumbfounded by seeing them on 
their knees, earnestly praying to their Heavenly Father 
to put it into the heart of Santa Claris to bring them 
each a new sled, a pair of skates, and some candy. 
When they awoke next morning, they sprang out of bed, 
to find the very toys they had prayed for. 

When Christians learn to exercise this childlike faith 
in God, the answers to their prayers will be more marked 
and direct than they now are. 

" Evening and morning and at noon will I pray " 

Ps. lv. 17. 

It is said of Scipio Africanus, that each morning at the 
break of day he went into his chamber, and there re- 
mained. a great while, advising with his gods concerning 
the duties of the day. 

What a happy frame of mind must he possess who has 
learned to daily go to Christ, and there sweetly com- 
mune and ask his presence through the busy scenes of 
daily life. 

" Cast your care upon him, for he careth for you."' 

" Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear 

My voice ascending high, 
To thee will I direct my prayer, 

To thee lift up mine eye." 

" But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and 
when thou hast shut thy door, prayP — Matt. vi. 6. 

It is related of one of the lord treasurers of England, 
that when he undressed at night he would throw off his 
official robe and say, '" Lie there, lord treasurer." As 
though he were bidding adieu to the pressing cares of his 
official station, that he might the more sweetly repose 



148 PRATER. 

on his couch of rest, So with the Christian. To rightly 
worship God we should come before him with no 
thought of worldly cares, but rather enter into our 
closets and shut the door, thus barring out every thought 
of worldliness. 

Oh 1 how many of us approach his majesty with one 
eye running over the scenes of this life while the other 
is looking upward. And how many of us go away 
empty-handed ! 



CHAPTER X. 



CHARITY. 



149 



CHARITY. 



" I was sick and ye visited ?ne, I was in prison and ye 
came unto ?>?e." — Matt. xxv. 36. 

A gentleman on board a steamer saw late one evening 
an officer of the vessel go stealthily to a state-room and 
deposit something, and close the door. He suspected it 
a case of some dread disease. He went to the officers 
and pressed them for a true statement ; at last they ad- 
mitted "that a priest on board had the yellow fever. The 
gentleman insisted on being shown to his room, where he 
found the poor man in great agony, and suffering for want 
of attention ; he was tenderly cared for and recovered. 
Imagine the surprise of the gentleman when he found it 
to be a very dear friend of his boyhood days. Oh the 
glad surprise awaiting those to whom Jesus will say, 
" I was sick and ye visited me, I was in prison and ye 
came unto me." " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 
of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." 



" Do good to them that hate you." — Matt. v. 44. 

Calvin said, when Luther had wronged and spoken evil 
of him, " Let Luther hate me, and call me evil names, 
yet will I love him and acknowledge him a precious 
servant of God." 

Oh ! that such a spirit would possess the hearts of 
151 



152 CHARITY. 

God's children to-day, and make our loyalty to Christ 
turn our enemies to shame. 

How oft do we find the cause of Christ dishonored by 
the foolish words and acts of his professed followers 
toward one another. 

Such things are Satan's seeds sown in our hearts, and 
if not choked out will ripen into our destruction. 

" The tongue is afire, a world of iniquity" 

Jas. iii. 6. 

A poor, ignorant man came one day to a gentleman, 
noted for his learning, with the request that he would 
teach him a Psalm. The learned man turned to the 
thirty-ninth Psalm, and read, " I said I will take heed to 
my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.'" — " Hold ! n 
cried the ignorant man. " that will do. I will first go and 
learn that." 

After the lapse of several months, his teacher inquired 
when he would be ready to proceed with the reading. 
He answered, " I have not yet learned my old lesson." 

Forty-nine years after, some one asked him the same 
question, and was answered as before. 

'•'The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity." A small 
member, yet no man can bridle it. 

" Let us not be desirous of vainglory, prov ok in g one 
another, envying one another T — Gal. v. 26. 

There is a Persian fable about a gourd which wound 
itself around a lofty palm, and in a very short time 
climbed to its very top. 

" How old mayest thou be ? " asked the vine of the 
palm. "About a hundred years," answered the palm. 
" A hundred vears. and no taller ? Only look ! I have 



(■JlAlilTY. 153 

grown as tall as you in less than a hundred days." — 
•• That may be very true," replied the lovely palm. 
•• Every summer of my life a gourd has climbed around 
my body, as proud as thou art, and as short lived as thou 
wilt be.' ? A very natural result of a proud, vainglorious 
spirit, short-lived and disastrously ended ; but the humble 
are not so, for God protects them from the storms of 
temptation, and gives them grace to battle against the 
withering blasts of the evil one, while the proud wither, 
and droop under the pressure, 

Oh, Lord, the pride in me remove, 

My selfish will displace ; 
Fill thou the vacancy with thy love 

Uphold me by thy grace. 



"Judge not, that ye be not judged" — Matt. vii. 1. 

On board one of the east-bound trains out of Chicago 
was a young man dressed in the height of style, and sup- 
porting a very fine cane. He carefully brushed the dust 
from the seat he was to occupy, which chanced to be next 
to that occupied by a gentleman who at once concluded 
the young man possessed better clothes than brains. 
Just opposite to them sat a sad-faced and tired-looking 
woman holding in her arms a sick baby. The benevolent 
looking gentleman settled in his seat, and began reading 
his paper, while his young, well-dressed neighbor leaning 
over the aisle, said to the lady, "Madam, you look so 
tired, please let me care for your baby while you take a 
nap." The lady very kindly thanked him, and allowed 
him to take the babe from her arms. She told him her 
story. She had been to the far West to see her sick hus- 
band who died ere she reached him, and she was on her 
way home, without sufficient money to secure a berth in 



154 CHARITY. 

the sleeper. The young man insisted that she take a nap, 
which she did, and awoke feeling much better. The 
young man then went through the train telling the sad 
story of the lady, which touched the hearts of the passen- 
gers, who contributed quite liberally, and the lady was 
given a berth in the sleeper for the remainder of her 
journey, and was made quite comfortable. As the young 
man was leaving the train, the benevolent-looking old 
gentleman quoted the words, "Judge not, lest ye be 
judged." 

Man looketh on the outward appearance, but G-od look- 
eth at the heart. 



"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers : for thereby 
some have entertained angels unawares." — Heb. xiii. 2. 

It is told of Bernard that when he saw a man dressed 
in fine apparel, he would say, " Maybe, this man, under 
his delicate clothes, has a better soul than I have." 

Or when he met a man, in mean apparel, he would say, 
" It may be true that this unfortunate man in his mean 
attire has a soul more pure than I," showing what great 
charity the man had for his fellow-man. 

"He that will love life and see good days, let him re- 
frain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no 
guile" — 1 Pet. iii. 10. 

" A young Mohammedan was accustomed to wake at 
certain intervals during the night to say his prayers. He 
took great pride in letting others know how devoted he 
was to his religion. On one occasion he called his 
father's attention to his religious life, and referred to his 
brothers and sisters sound asleep. ' My son,' said the 



( UAKITT. 155 

father, u you had far better be asleep than to lay awake 
to find fault with others.' " 

An excellent rule, and one by which we each can profit : 
its application is this, to refrain from speaking at all of 
a person unless we have something good to say of him. 
How frequently d.o careless words fall from our lips that 
cause our fellow-man much hurt. 



"Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of 
another : Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." 

1 Pet. iii. 8. 

Years ago a young lady took a drive in a beautiful 
park. On her way something occurred that irritated 
her. She left the carriage, and sat down by the river 
bank, hoping no one would appear to disturb her. Pres- 
ently a man stood before her ; his clothes were of fine 
material, though badly worn and very ragged. His man- 
ner at once told that he was not a common tramp ; he 
asked the young lady if she could give him any work to 
do that he might earn a little money to buy some food. 
;; What work could 1 have for you," she said. The man 
turned and walked away. When the young lady arose 
and walked to her carriage, she again met the man, who 
said, " I am very wretched ; if you would use your influ- 
ence, you could get me some work." The young lady 
made no reply, but entered her carriage, and was driven 
home. Next morning, as she glanced over the paper, her 
eyes fell on the account of a man being found in the 
river ; his struggle with ill health and poverty unmanned 
him, and he sought relief in death. He had appealed 
the day before to every person he met for work. " Alas, 
and his last appeal was to me," said the young lady. 
" And I refused to aid him." Fifty years later, the face 



156 CHARITY. 

of that man came to the now old woman, as she lay on 
her bed, and seemed to condemn her for her lack of 
charity. " Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least 
of these, my brethren, ye did it not to me." 

" There is no fear in love." — 1 Jno. iv. 18. 

I remember when I was a very little boy, my elder 
brother told me, in a simple, childlike way, about heaven 
and hell. The impression made on my childish heart 
can never be blotted out. 

He told me, in his boyish manner, the final abode of 
the good and the bad. I resolved I would escape the 
awful doom of the wicked. 

When I grew to the estate of manhood, and more fully 
understood the great love of God, this awful fear 
partially left me, and now I try to serve Christ not 
because hell's torments haunt me, but because I love 
him for making the escape from those torments so 
easy. "Perfect love casteth out fear." Reader, why 
are you striving to live for Christ ? 

" Follow peace with all men, and holiness, icithout which 
no man shall see the Lord." — Heb. xii. 14. 

Mr. E. W. Dale says, " God has no ultimate use for a 
man that is not holy. A rose-tree that does not blossom 
is of no use in a garden. A vine that bears no grapes is 
of no use in a vineyard. A criminal has no place in the 
State. In that everlasting kingdom in which the glory 
of God and the perfection of man will be at last revealed, 
there can be no place for those that have not an intense 
passion for holiness, and who do not themselves illustrate 
its dignity and beauty." 

How blest the man whose love for God enables his 



CHARITY. 157 

steps to tread the path of righteousness, and whose heart 
constantly yearns for the fulness of Christ, and whose 
soul delights in the holiness of his Saviour ; and 
whose constant walk is in the footsteps of Christ our 
Lord. 

" Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one 
another, envying one another" — Gal. v. 26. 

There is in Grecian literature a story of a man who 
through envy took his own life. 

His countrymen had reared a magnificent monument 
to the victor in the public games. So strong was this 
rival's envy that he went forth in the stillness of the 
midnight hour to destroy the monument. He succeeded 
in moving it from its pedestal, but alas! in its fall, it 
crushed him to death. How vividly this incident illus- 
trates the effects of envy in the human heart; while 
seeking to drag others down, our sins fall on us, and 
crush our own souls. 

" Naked and ye clothed me." — Matt. xxv. 36. 

St. Martin one day met a poor, ill-clad beggar by the 
roadside, shivering with cold. He took off his long, 
heavy cloak, and threw it over the shoulders of the 
unfortunate sufferer. That night he dreamed that the 
adorable Lord stood beside his couch, wearing his cloak 
that he had given the poor man. "As oft as ye did 
it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto 
me." 

How many of us can profit by this lesson on charity. 
One duty the Christian world may improve in, and that 
is charity toward our fellow-man ; — charity for those less 
fortunate than ourselves ; — charity for the unsaved, with 



158 CHARITY. 

whom we come in daily contact. Christ's rule was to 
win by love. Love should be our motto. How many 
poor unfortunate souls in distress we could win to Christ 
by showing them that we love their souls. Oh, my 
soul, beget within thee a deeper love and a more charita- 
ble spirit. 

I need, Lord ! more of thy love, 
For souls that are lost in sin ; 

Come, Holy Spirit, from above. 
Open my heart and enter in. 

"Be kindly affectioned one to another." — Rom. xii. 10. 

Jerome relates of John that when he became old he 
used to go among the churches and assemblies, and every 
where repeat the words, '"Little children love one an- 
other." His disciples, wearied at the constant repetition, 
asked him why he always said this. "Because."" he re- 
plied, " it is the Lord's commandment ; and if it only be 
fulfilled, it is enough." 

Oh what a sweeping power the army of Christians 
would have if they would only exercise more love, more 
charity, for the fallen that are around them. 

Let us remember if we win a lost soul, it must be by 
our love operating with the boundless love of God which 
melts their hearts. 

" IV/io is like unto thee, Lord, among the Gods f 
who is like tinto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in 
praises, doing wonders." — Exod. xv. 11. 

So great was the love and respect of the heathen 
Egyptians toward their gods, that they often resorted to 
the most extreme measures rather than cast the least 
dishonor upon one of them. 



GHARITT. 159 

During an extreme famine it is said that they ate one 
another rather than eat such animals as they held to be 
sacred. Diodorus Siculus relates, as an eyewitness, an 
incident in which a Roman soldier at Alexandria killed a 
ear. — an unpardonable offence, punishable with death. — 
the populace surrounded his house, took him, and sub- 
jected him to the most terrible torture, and only released 
him when death ended his pain. Such was the admira- 
tion of the heathen for his dumb god. 

But. " Who is like unto Thee, Lord, among the gods." 
Certainly this story of the Egyptian heathen can teach 
us a lesson. We. who ofttimes shun our duty ; — we, who 
by nature abhor the holiness, purity, and love of our true 
and everlasting Creator and God. and admire not his ways 
and precepts ; — we, who are ignorant of the glory of His 
holiness, and the wonder of his power, — can learn from 
this simple illustration a more complete sense of the 
holiness, and a more devout reverence for the God of 
Gods. 

" But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father 
which is in heaven forgive your tres2Kisses." — Mark xi. 26. 

An old woman was going along the streets of New 
York one day, carrying a basket of apples. A rough 
sailor ran against her, and caused the basket to upset, 
and scatter the apples on the ground. The sailor then 
turned, expecting to hear the old woman scold and swear 
at him ; but she picked up her apples, and turning to the 
sailor said, "God forgive you, my son. as I do." The 
words pierced the sailor's heart, and he insisted on 
the old woman taking pay for his mean trick, promising 
never again to do such a mean act. 

Sometimes it is hard to overcome our human nature, 
and forgive our enemies, but it is not an impossibility. 



1G0 CHAHITY. 

If Christ is the sole ruler of the heart, we cannot harbor 
any such feelings toward our fellow-man. We are also 
commanded to " pray for them that despitefully use us," 
and whenever we are living in this spirit we have evi- 
dence that we are not far from a precious nearness to 
Christ. 

" I shall be satisfied when I aicake tcith thy likeness" 

Ps. xvii. 15. 

One cold New Year's morning, a Christian lack* took 
a little street waif to her house, and cared for. clothed, 
and fed her ; as the lady was busily engaged, in attending 
the wants of many other unfortunate ones, she noticed 
this little girl intently watching her every movement. 
After the good lady had made her little guests com- 
fortable, she asked each one of the company to tell her 
what they most desired above everything else. 

One wished for this, one for that, one for certain toys, 
one for wealth, one for a nice home. When this little 
girl's time came to express her wish, she looked up in the 
sweet face of her benefactor, and in her childlike earnest- 
ness, said, " Of all things I most wish that I was just like 
this kind lady who has taken us, and been so kind to us 
as to give up her own pleasure to-day, in order to make 
us happy." 

What an inspiring thought it is to know that some day 
we shall awake in the likeness of Christ, and be clothed 
with his righteousness. 



CHAPTEK XL 



THE CHRISTIAN'S REWARD. 



THY WORK SHALL BE REWARDED. 

Jere. xxi. 



161 



THE CHRISTIANS REWARD. 



"In my Fathers house are many mansions." 

Jxo. xiv. 2. 

A gentleman erected an elegant dwelling, and moved 
from his old one to the new. 

As he was showing his little son through the magnifi- 
cent apartments, the little fellow would exclaim, as he 
passed from one room to another, " Is this our's ? " and 
•• Is this our's ? " The contrast made a lasting impres- 
sion on his little mind. 

So will it be when we get to heaven. As our Saviour 
acquaints us with the exquisite grandeur of our eternal 
home, and points out the riches of God's love in giv- 
ing us so happy an abode, what a contrast, too grand 
for our uneducated eyes to behold, too sublime for the 
highest conception of our minds to comprehend. Yet, 
reader, such is the abode of the blood-washed soul ; such 
is the everlasting habitation of the soul, made pure in 
the cleansing fount of Christ's blood. Will it surprise 
you if you should cry out in your amazement, "Is it 
ours ? Is it ours ? n To this end our adorable Lord has 
now gone to prepare a place for you and me, that where 
he is, we may be also. 

In anticipation of this grand and eternal haven of 
rest, and whilst we await the coming of the angelic mes- 
sengers to summon us to that peaceful repose, is it not 
our duty to set the feet of some fellow-traveller in the 

163 



164 THE CHBISTIAN'S BE WARD. 

same path ? Is it not our privilege to turn our efforts 
toward those around us, and lead them also to such an 
inheritance ? 

"Thy work shall be rewarded" — Jer. xxxi. 16. 
A few years ago, a gentleman was stopping for a few 
days at a fashionable watering-place. Early one morn- 
ing, as he was strolling along the beach, he heard a cry 
of distress, followed quickly by calls for help. He has- 
tily turned in the direction of the call, and saw a young 
lady being carried by the tide into deep water ; he 
rushed in to her rescue, and reached her just as she was 
sinking for the last time, and bore her safely to shore. 
Some years later he received a letter with a draft for 
five thousand dollars, and stating that the lady whom he 
had rescued had died, leaving him that amount. So it is 
with God's servants ; we have his unerring word that 
our " labors shall not be in vain," and we know that 
at some time — it may not be this side of eternity, but 
some time — we shall receive our reward. Whether our 
lives have been good or bad, God has in store for us a 
reward. 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; 
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness ; that 
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter ! " 

" Woe unto them that are icise in their own eyes, and 
prudent in their own sight /" — Isa. v. 20, 21. 

" Some years ago there was shown to us a sheet of 
blank paper, the centre of which was perforated by a 
maze of pin pricks, apparently without order or design 
But when the paper was held up against the light, there 
appeared, outlined on the opposite wall, the head of 



THE CHRISTIAN'S BEWAlit). 165 

Christ encircled by the crown of thorns. There are 
certain scientific critics to-day who try to make the Old 
Testament only a very ill-arranged collection of tradi- 
tion and prophecy, with here and there a historical fact 
thrown in. Yet, held up against the light of the cross, 
this same Old Testament reveals the gradual unfolding 
of God's plan of salvation, and distinctly foreshadows 
the Saviour." 



" There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." 

Heb. iv. 9. 

There is a pass in Scotland, called G-lencoe, which 
supplies a beautiful illustration of what heaven will be 
to the man who comes to Christ. The road through 
Glencoe takes the traveller up a long and steep ascent, 
with many a wind and turn in its course. But when the 
top of the pass is reached, a stone is seen by the way- 
side, with these simple words engraved upon it, " Rest 
and be thankful." — Ryle. 

Rest ! rest ! what a wonderful word. How it should 
cheer our poor, aching, weary, careworn, longing, bleed- 
ing, sorrowful, tempted, doubting, bereaved hearts, and 
stir up our very souls within us as we realize that 
" There remaineth, therefore, A REST to the people of 
God." A rest where the weary and heavy-laden may 
lay aside his cares and sit down in the joys of his Lord. 
A rest in which the whole renovated creation shall 
share. An eternal sabbath of sweet repose, where the 
Triune God shall rejoice in the work of his hand. A 
rest where the redeemed of Christ shall, and in one 
grand concert, sing a new song to " Him that sitteth on 
the throne, and unto the Lamb that was slain, and has 
redeemed us to God by his blood." 



166 THE CHRISTIAN'S BEWABD. 

Oh ! cast-down soul, is not the anticipation of this 
enough to cause thee to beget new courage, and patiently 
run the race " set before thee, looking unto Jesus, the 
author and finisher of thy faith," and the giver of this 
unending period of felicity ? Oh, cold and slothful soul, 
is not the expectation of this rest sufficient to stir within 
thee a desire to take up thy cross and closely follow him 
who died for thee, and hast gone to prepare a rest to 
him that overcometh ? Oh, sorrowing and bereaved 
heart, is not thy burden too great for thee to longer 
bear ? Lay it on him who bids you enter into the rest 
prepared for them that love God. Oh, unsaved soul, is 
not the load of thy sins becoming too heavy ? Then 
cast thy burden on Jesus Christ, who bids you come 
unto him, and he will give you rest. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE BIBLE. 



<; FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK AND POWERFUL. 

Heb. iv. r. 



167 



THE BIBLE. 



" I rejoice at thy word, as one that find 'eth great spoil." 

Ps. cxix. 162. 

A certain prince became affianced to a lovely princess 
to whom lie sent a very magnificent gift, as a token of 
his affection. The messenger arrived with the present, 
which proved to be an iron egg. The princess became 
very angry, and cast it upon the floor. Upon a second 
thought she took it, and began to more closely examine 
it. when, by accident, she touched a spring which caused 
the outer casing to part, revealing an egg of brass. She 
touched the spring to this, and it fell to the floor, leaving 
in her hand an egg of silver, which when opened, dis- 
closed an egg of gold that soon swung open, and a mag- 
nificent diamond of rare beauty and value fell in her lap. 
Each time she looked at it, pleasant memories of the 
donor came to her, and each time she examined the 
at first uninteresting gift, she found hid within, a rarer 
gem. And so it is with the word of God, the world picks 
it up, and glances at it with the natural eye, and again 
casts it aside as dry and uninteresting. 

"When the Holy Spirit touches the heart, the outer 
casing falls away, and the convicted soul finds his own 
life pictured in a manner too unmistakably plain to doubt, 
and when the scenes drive the soul to the Fount for sin, 
then the silvery lining appears, and when Christ lifts the 
great load from the heart then the golden jewels sparkle 

169 



170 THE BIBLE. 

on every page until earthly scenes are no more, and the 
rare pearls of the precious promises bear on wings of 
triumph the trusting spirit to the presence of Him who 
is the Father of all spirits. Therefore. " I rejoice at thy 
word, as one that fmdeth great spoil. " 



■•For the word of God is quick and powerful." 

Heb. iv. 12. 

A gentleman passing along the street halted in front 
of an Italian woman's fruit stand, whom he found busily 
engaged in reading a book. — 

" What are you reading there, my good woman, that so 
interests you ? "' inquired the man. — " The word of God.*' 
replied the woman. — " The word of God ? Who told you 
that ? " said the man. — •• God told me himself." she an- 
swered. — •■ God told you ? How did He do that ? Have 
you ever talked with God ? How did He tell you that 
was His word ? " 

Not accustomed to discuss questions of theology, the 
woman was a little confused. Recovering herself, she 
said. *• Sir. can you prove to me that there is a sun up 
there in heaven ? " — " Prove it." said the man. " Why do 
you ask me to prove it. it proves itself. It warms me. 
and I see its light. What better proof can any one want ? '* 
The woman smiled, and said. " Just so. you are right : 
and that is just the way God tells this book is His word. 
I read it. and it warms me. and gives me light. I see 
Him in it. and what it says is light and warmth which 
none but God can give : and so he tells me it is His 
word. What more proof do I need ? " — Dr. Jos. A. Seiss. 

The Scriptures have two sides. A side that the world 
may read and profit thereby, and a side that none but the 
trusting, praying child of God can realize, 



////•: nir.LK 171 

Oh the sweet consolation afforded the child of God as 
the Holy Spirit unfolds the riches of the promises and 
the beauties of precepts of which the world cannot know. 



"Now ye are clean through the word which I have 
spoken unto you" — Jxo. xv. 3. 

Bishop Hopkins said, " I have somewhere read a story 
of one who complained to an aged holy man, that he was 
much discouraged from reading the Scriptures because 
he could fasten nothing in his memory that he had read. 
The old man bade him take an earthen pitcher, and fill 
it with water ; when he had done so, he bade him empty 
it again, and wipe it clean, that nothing should remain in 
it ; which, when the other had done, and wondered to 
what this tended. "Now," said he, "though there be 
nothing of the water remaining in it, yet the pitcher is 
cleaner than it was before." — " For the word of God is 
sharper, and more powerful than any two-edged sword, 
opening the eyes of the spiritually blind, and unstopping 
the ears of the spiritually deaf, making wise the simple, 
and strengthening the weak, and is the power of God 
unto salvation." For " the words of the Lord are pure 
words." " Given by inspiration of God, and profitable 
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness." Therefore, dear reader, " Let the word 
of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and 
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spirit- 
ual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." 
" Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the 
power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, 
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the 
devil, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of 
the spirit, which is the word of God." 



172 THE BIBLE. 

" Therefore, shall ye lay up these my words in your 
heart and in your soid .... and ye shall teach them 
your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine 
house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest 
down, and when thou risest up." — Deut. xi. 18, 19. 

Says one, " We ought not to measure, censure, and un- 
derstand the Scriptures according to our own natural 
sense and reason, but we ought diligently by prayer to 
meditate therein." 

The devil is a skilful interpreter of Scripture. He 
has multitudes to-day under his tutorship, and leading 
them gradually down, down, under the hellish guise of 
morality, liberalism, etc. My friend, the Holy Ghost 
should be our master, our guide, and our interpreter. 



" Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life" — Jxo. v. 39. 

God always through his word instructeth the heart, 
to the end that it may come to the serious acknowledg- 
ment of itself, and to know how wicked it is, and 
spoiled ; yea, that it is at enmity with God. Afterwards 
God leadeth a man so far, that he cometh also to the 
knowledge of God, and how he may be freed from sin, 
and after this miserable, vanquishing world, how he 
may obtain a life that is everlasting. On the contrary, 
human sense and reason are, with all their wisdom, only 
able to bring it no farther than to instruct and direct 
people how to live a civil kind of life. But how they 
should learn to know God and his dear son Jesus Christ, 
and to be saved, the same teacheth the Holy Ghost 
only, through God's word ; for philosophy understandeth 
nothing of divine matters. — Martin Luther. 



THE BIBLE. 173 

" Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
spirit, which is the word of GodP — Eph. vi. 17. 

A gentleman who has made the fowl tribe a study 
tells us that the crane, whose body is light, is unable to 
resist the storms at sea, and that when it intends taking 
a journey over the salty waves, it first goes and fills 
itself with sand and small pebbles until its body has 
weight sufficient to enable it to keep its course in the 
raging storm. 

So should it be with the young Christian. Before he 
attempts to walk alone, he should fill himself with the 
" sincere milk of the word," which gives him weight and 
strength to " withstand the wiles of the devil," who can 
make no inroads upon those who resist him with the 
" sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." 

"For the word of God is quick and povierfid, and 
sharper than any tico-edged sword, piercing even to the 
dividing assunder of soul and spirit, etc." 

Heb. iv. 12. 

A Romanist promised a Christian missionary to read 
the Bible to his wife one hour each evening. Before 
many evenings he turned to his companion and said, 
''Wife, if this book is true, we are wrong." A few even- 
ings later he again turned to his wife, and said, " Wife, 
if this book is true, we are lost." A little later he, for 
the third time, addressed his wife, and said, " Wife, if 
this book is true, we may be saved." After the lapse of 
several evenings, he turned the fourth time to his anx- 
ious wife and said. " Wife, if this book is true, and, 
thank God, it is. we are saved." And both found new 
joy. such as they had never known, in Christ. How 
many families in our very midst that have no Bibles, and 



174 THE BIBLE. 

how many might be led to Christ if we would awaken to 
our duty, and supply such a need. 

"I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou 
shalt say." — Ex. iv. 12 

A man went to an attorney to secure his services in 
defending him at the bar of justice for some misde- 
meanor charged against him. The attorney bade him 
state his case just as it was, to confide in him, and give 
the details of the case. 

The man did so. " And now," said the attorney, handing 
his client a piece of paper closely written, " take this and 
carefully memorize it so thoroughly that any amount of 
cross-questioning will not make you forget it. When 
you come to trial, don't you try to make your own de- 
fence, but answer just as I have written on that paper." 

How easily could we silence the argument of unbe- 
lievers if we only rightfully studied God's word. If we 
only would answer as it is written. Take no care what 
we shall say, but speak in the spirit of God. 

" We are journeying unto the place of ichich the Lord 
said, I will give it you ; come thou with us, and ice will 
do thee goodP — Num. x. 29. 

A gentleman, becoming desirous of changing his place 
of residence in the east for a western home, wrote to a 
number of prominent men at the place to which he had 
decided to emigrate, for full particulars as to the climate, 
soil, cost of living, the amount of wages, school, church, 
and social privileges. In reply to his numerous ques- 
tions, he received a large number of printed pamphlets, 
telling all about the country. The gentleman read them 
eagerly, and studied every detail, for. said he, " This is a 



////•; BIBLE. 175 

matter of great importance to me. I am going to make 
it my home, and before I fully decide, I want to know to 
what sort of a place I am going.'' Beloved friend, you 
are soon to leave this world and take up your abode in 
another, why plunge along in your blindness ? The 
Bible minutely describes the country to which you are 
going. Oh. that each of us would take new hold upon 
the blessed Book, and seek to gain an insight to its 
precious truths. 

" For the word of God is quick and powerful, and 
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the 
dividing asunder of sold and spirit." — Heb. iv. 12. 

In the office of an eminent lawyer sat a young student 
absorbed in the study of law, by which he hoped some 
day to gain a great reputation. As he sat poring over 
some knotty point, his eye rested upon a Bible that lay 
on the table. He paused ; a still, small voice whispered 
to him, " What if that Book is the word of God ? It 
may not be, but suppose it is, what then ? " He took 
that book from its resting-place, and began to read it. 
The more he read, the more he became interested, until 
the duty of asking God for the illumination of the Holy 
Spirit came to him for the first time in his life ; he went 
to his closet and communed with Christ. The love of 
God was revealed to him ; he consecrated his life to the 
service of his master, and became a shining light by 
simply reading the Bible. The sharp edges of the 
precious gems therein, severed the ties of worldliness, and 
freed him from the bondage of satanic ambition, filling 
him with the love of his Saviour, instilling into his 
heart a desire to tell others of the " pearl of great price " 
that he had found. Oh ! that we each more fully realized 



176 THE BIBLE. 

the importance of a knowledge of the word of God. Oh ! 
that we were better acquainted with the promises, the 
warnings, the invitations, and the commands therein 
given. 

" Search the Scriptures." — Johx v. 39. 

Luther said of the blessed Word of God that " the 
holy Scripture is the best and purest book — truly of 
God. full of comfort in all manner of trials and tempta- 
tions ; for it teacheth of faith, hope, and love far other- 
wise than by human reason and understanding can be 
comprehended. And in times of trouble and vexations 
it teacheth how these virtues should light and shine ; it 
teacheth also that after this poor miserable life, there is 
another which is eternal and everlasting."' 

The books of the heathen teach nothing of faith, hope, 
and love ; neither knew they anything of the same. Their 
books aim only at the present, while of trust in God and 
hope in Christ nothing is written there of him. 



PART II. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



GOD'S LOVE TO MAN. 



FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY 
BEGOTTEX SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM 
SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.'' 

John iii. 16. 



177 



GODS LOVE TO MAN. 



"For God so loved the world that he (/are his only be- 
gotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but hare everlasting life." — Jxo. iii. 16. 

Mr. Moody says as lie was passing along the street 
in Brooklyn one day lie met a young man without any 
arms. A friend pointed him out, and told his history. 
When the war broke out he enlisted in the army ; he was 
engaged to be married to a very estimable lady ; while 
absent, letters frequently passed between them. After 
a great battle, the usual letters failed to reach the lady. 
A painful silence followed. One day a letter came, ad- 
dressed in a strange handwriting. The young man said 
he had been badly wounded in the battle, and that he 
would never be able to gain a support for her whom he 
loved more dearly than ever, but be released her of her 
promise to him, not caring to have her share the lifelong- 
misery in store for him. The next train that left the 
town the young lady was aboard, bound for the hospital 
where her lover lay wounded ; gaining permission, she 
hurried down the long aisles, amid suffering and distress. 
to where her lover's couch was ; throwing her arms about 
his neck, she declared she would never forsake him." 
Her love was so strong and so true, she could not forsake 
hira. and his pitiable condition even made that love more 
tender. Such an act of love touches a cord in our own 
hearts, and causes us to almost love her too. J>ut, friends, 

1?.) 



180 GOD'S LOVE TO MAN. 

this is only a shadow of the love God has toward the 
vilest sinner ; he gave up his only son to suffer the most 
shameful as well as painful death because his love for 
you and I was so strong that he could not see us rush 
headlong into eternal death. He so tenderly loved you 
and I, that he gave his only begotten son to save us, 
saying, " believe," — " believe." Do you believe ? 

" On him they laid the cross." — Luke xxiii. 26. 

It is said that when the Scottish chieftains wished to 
raise an army, they would take a wooden cross and set 
fire to it and carry it through the mountains, where thou- 
sands of brave men would flock to the standard, ready to 
die for their country. 

When God in his infinite love wanted to redeem a 
fallen world, He gave his only begotten Son, on whom 
wicked hands laid the cross, and who was nailed thereon 
that the human family might flock to the standard of 
redemption, and escape the hurling darts of the enemy. 

It is this cross, my gentle reader, that I bring before 
you to-day. It is this cross that every true child of God 
carries through the world, ablaze with the love of God. 
May you be led to it, and to the saving power of him 
whose life went out thereon. 

" Greater lore hath no man than this, that a man lay 
down his life for his friends ." — Jxo. xv. 13. 

Napoleon, in exile at St. Helena, said to Montholon, 
"Alexander, Csesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded 
great empires, but upon force ; Jesus Christ alone founded 
his empire upon lore, and to-day millions would die for 
him ; none else is like him." 

The motive that prompted Napoleon, Alexander, Caesar, 



GfOD'S LOVE TO MAN. 181 

and others fco found great empires was the love of fame, 
notoriety, and selfishness. The motive that prompted 
Christ to leave his heavenly throne, and surfer self-abase- 
ment was true unselfish lore toward a lost and fallen 
world. 

It was love that enabled him to bear the taunts and 
sneers of sinful men; — it was love that made him take 
on himself human pains and woes ; — it was love that made 
him the actor in the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary ; — 
it was true, unbounded, unselfish love that prompted his 
sojourn for thirty-three years in a world of sin, soitoav, 
and pain, in order that sinful man might be delivered from 
the eternal condemnation of his fallen state, and elevated 
to sonship, and made heir with himself of God's kingdom. 

Friendly reader, for you he underwent all this ; — for 
you he died, arose, and ascended to the Father, where he 
now pleads your cause. To you he sends the invitation 
to come unto him, and be saved, — 

" Come without money and without price, and whoso- 
ever will, let him come." 

"Herein is love." — 1 Jno. iv. 10. 

After Joan of Arc had won the great victory at Orleans, 
and made clear the w r ay for Charles the Seventh to be 
crowned king, she was taken prisoner, and subjected to 
the most brutal treatment at the hands of her enemies ; 
still her ungrateful king refused to make a single move 
to liberate the one who had freed his subjects, and made 
him heir and king. 

My unsaved friend, you are doing the same thing. As 
yon read the simple narrative, you doubtless will say, 
"King Charles was ungrateful, and deserved punish- 
ment.'' Yet Jesus Christ left his heavenly home, came 



182 GOD'S LOVE TO MAN. 

down to earth, suffered, and died that you might be 
crowned the "child of a king," and you refuse to even 
acknowledge him. Should the anger of God consume 
you, could you say aught in your defence ? 

" God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 
son, that whosoever believeth should not perish but have 
everlasting life." 

" Who gave hi m self for us, that he might redeem us." 

Titus ii. 14. 

On board a great vessel, loaded with passengers, was a 
mother and little son ; when well out to sea, and during 
what promised to be a pleasant voyage, a sudden cry of 
" fire " was heard. The captain remembered that he had 
on board a quantity of gunpowder, and at once ordered 
the lifeboats lowered, and began to clear the burning 
vessel of her precious cargo. The last boat was being 
filled : it became evident that there was not room for all. 
As it moved slowly away, a lady, with her little boy, 
came running to the side of the ship, and imploring 
them to take herself and boy. Her entreaties finally 
moved the inmates of the boat, and they decided to go 
back to the burning ship and take them ; when they 
began rearranging the passengers, it was found that, at 
most, the boat would carry but one more. Without hesi- 
tation, the weeping mother pressed her child to her 
bosom, and planted on his cheek a farewell kiss, low- 
ered him into the lifeboat, and sank back to meet her 
fate. She died to give life to one she loved. Reader, 
Christ has died that you might have a place in the boat 
of eternal life. Though it cost him sorrow and shame, 
suffering and death, yet shrunk he not. Does reason 
t jach you that it is your duty to keep on in sin, and 
continue m the broad road to destruction ? Or do vou 



(;oirs LOVE TO MAN. 188 

see it your duty to give your heart to him who gave 
himself for us, that he might redeem us to God and life 
eternal. God asks nothing unreasonable of you. He 
only requires you to give to him your puny, weak, and 
sin-stained heart, and he even returns that, after he has 
washed and purified it. 

•• God so loved the world that he gave his only begot- 
ten son, that whosoever belie veth in him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life." 

"Herein is love." — 1 Jno. iv. 10. 

Not long ago Thomas Canfield, a lad of seventeen, was 
crossing Broadway Bridge, Boston, when he saw a boy, 
younger than himself, fall into the w r ater. Without 
halting to see if he would be rescued, the brave lad 
sprung from the bridge into the water, forty feet below, 
and. at the imminent risk of his own life, saved the 
drowning boy. The question may be asked what 
prompted him to run this great risk to rescue a boy 
whom lie did not know, or probably had never seen 
before ? I answer by saying it was unselfish love. And 
so it was with God, who so loved the world that he gave 
his only begotten son, that poor, lost, suffering humanity 
might be rescued from the mad waves of sin, and 
restored to the favor of Jehovah. We wonder and 
applaud the unselfish love of brave Thomas Canfield, but 
what a love it was that prompted Christ to leave his 
kingly throne in heaven and come to a w r orld full of sin, 
sorrow, and pain, to rescue a race who were his avowed 
enemies. How vain are the attempts of human speech 
to describe this love ! What can I say more than to 
say to you. my reader, that this love was for you. Can 
you, with a clear conscience, go on in your sinful course ? 



184 GOD'S LOVE TO MAN. 

Can you, in view of this great fact, afford to longer 
trample this love under foot ? I simply leave you here 
to answer the question before your God. 



" Come now. and let us reason together, saith the Lord." 

Isa. i. 18. 

11 An aged minister, now at rest, related the following 
incident, that came to his notice while laboring in the 
State of Xew York. One of his church members, a 
farmer, in comfortable financial circumstances, had three 
sons, the younger of whom he was very proud, and 
upon whom he had expended various sums to satisfy his 
boyish whims. 

" This son soon showed a desire to rid himself of 
parental restraint, and to do as best pleased himself. 
One day the aged father called him into his room, and. 
after recalling the very many instances in which he had 
bestowed upon him especial favors, requested that he 
change his course, and fulfil the long-cherished expecta- 
tions of his anxious parents. To this very just and rea- 
sonable request, the ungrateful son refused to listen, and 
declared he would be compelled to no longer follow his 
parent's desires, reasonable as he knew them to be. At 
this the tottering father walked to the door ; opening it 
wide, he said, ' My son, here is the door, and before you 
is the wide world. Go and forget the father whom you 
have so illy treated, and I, if I can, will forget my 
ungrateful son.' The son instantly saw he was not com- 
pelled to remain at home. A change came over him, and 
he rushed into the open arms of his father, and im- 
plored forgiveness." 

So God does not compel us to accept the conditions of 
salvation. True, he longs to see us come to him, but, my 



GOD'S LOVE TO MAX. 185 

friend, if your soul and mine is lost, heaven will be as 
real as ever ; our absence from the angelic throng will 
not lessen the glory of that throng. We are not com- 
pelled to go to heaven, and if we miss it, it is our own 
fault. God is under no obligation to make any especial 
effort to save us. Let us cease to think he cannot get 
along without us ; such ideas are misleading. But let us 
come to C'liris't, and give him our hearts, because he so 
loved us as to give himself for us. 

" Greater love hath no man than this" — Jxo. xv. 13. 

" In a small village lived a blacksmith. One bright 
morning the people had assembled at the house of wor- 
ship, and in the midst of the services the cry of " mad 
dog ! mad dog ! " was raised. Women and children be- 
gan to scream and climb over one another in seeking a 
place of safety. Men stood in fear as the great shaggy 
animal walked clown the aisle, frothing at the mouth, and 
snapping right and left at imaginary objects. The great, 
stout blacksmith bade all be quiet, and seizing the mad 
animal held him with an iron-like grasp, at the same time 
telling his friends to disperse while he held the object of 
their dread. When they had gotten outside the church. 
men came to his assistance, and killed the dog ; not how- 
ever, until he had terribly lacerated the arms of the poor 
smith. When the excitement had subsided he went to 
his shop, and made a great iron chain, and riveted it 
around his arms and limbs ; having first securely fastened 
the other end to the floor of his shop, and requested his 
friends to bring him food until the dread disease mani- 
fested itself, and when he was dead to bury his remains." 

Wondrous love, yet a mere shadow of the love of God 
manifested toward you, kind reader. 

What a blessed thing to so love Christ as to be willing 



186 GOB'S LOVE TO MAN. 

to take up our cross and live for him under an}' and all 
circumstances. What a glorious thing to come to Christ 
and have our hearts renewed in the cleansing fount of 
his sacrifice for us. What a precious thought to know 
that he so loved us that he voluntarily laid down his life 
to rescue us from the awful consequences of our natural 
depravity. What wondrous forethought to make the 
foundation of this salvation so broad and sb free that all 
the world might partake of it. What an unsearchable 
love to you. and to me, dear friend, is that shown by our 
adorable Saviour. 

" He that loveth father or mother more than me is not 
worthy of 'me." — Matt. x. 37. 

" Mamma," said a little boy, " I cannot love God and 
you both, so I'll choose you." " Why, my child," replied 
the mother, " what do you mean by saying you cannot 
love both ? " " 'Cause that's what my Sunday-school 
lessons says. I must love God with all my heart, and 
there isn't but one all to it, so if I love him with all, 
there won't be one bit left for you." 

The mother smiled, and asked her child to go to the 
cellar with her and help her to fill a large basket with 
potatoes. " There," said he, piling on the last one, 
" it's full." " Full, yet there is room." and she took a 
bag of beans and began filling the crevices between the 
potatoes. When she had done this, she said, " Xeither 
is it full yet," and she poured a shovelful of sand over 
it " Xot full yet," she again said, and began pouring 
water on the heap. " My child," she said, " you now 
see how anything can be full and hold more ; so your 
heart may be full of the love of God, and still have 
plenty of room for papa and mamma, and brothers and 
sisters, and toys and books." 



coirs love To MAN. 187 

u Greater lore hath no man than this" — Jxo. xv. 13. 

A. missionary of the South Sea islands was once reading 
from Jno. iii. 16. to a native who asked that it might be 
read to him again. As he listened to it, he burst into 
tears, retired to meditate on it, and was completely over- 
come, and converted to God by thinking of his wondrous 
love. 

How wonderful when we stop to think of it. A love 
so strong for such as you and I as to give his only be- 
gotten Son to pay the penalty. Yet amid all this, some, 
it may be you, are trampling this love under foot, and 
fast going to destruction. Dear soul, salvation is before 
you. If you are lost, the free path to eternal life will 
remain the same. The wondrous love of Christ will not 
be changed. If you are lost, it is your own free choosing, 
and riot God's will. Don't once think God must save 
you, and that heaven will be incomplete without you, but 
remember your future depends on your own personal 
decision. 

"And ye are not your own. for ye are bought with a 

price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your 
spirit, n-hich are God's" — 1 Con. vi. 19, 20. 

A gentleman, one day, was travelling with a friend. 
As they took their seat in the railway train, two other 
gentlemen entered ; one took his seat, and the other 
reached out his hand to bid him farewell. A thought 
came to him, and he said, "By the by, have you an 
insurance ticket ?" — " Oh, yes," he replied, " I am in- 
sured." One of the gentlemen sitting just in front of 
him turned, and said very quietly, " Are you insured for- 
ever ? " The gentleman looked up, and said, " I only 
insure for one year at a time.'' — " But I," said the gen- 
tleman, "am insured forever." Still misunderstanding, 



188 GOD'S LOVE TO MAS. 

the gentleman replied, "Yes, I know you can insure 
that wa}', but it costs so much.'- — " Yes," replied the 
other man, " mine was done by one payment, and it cost 
a great deal too. It cost me nothing, but it cost God his 
Son." 

Free insurance, free because " God so loved the world 
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth on him should not perish but have everlasting 
life." Free because Christ paid the premium, and insured 
our souls against loss by sin, and all its woes ; insured 
us against the attacks of old Satan ; insured us in the 
company of eternal life. 

Oh, sou? thou art not thine own, but art "bought with 
a price," and your redemption is recorded in heaven's 
records. Why will you longer roam the bleak pathways 
of sin, and follow your downward course ? Consult your 
soul's eternal interests, and make Christ your insurance 
against Satan, and your assurance of everlasting life. 

"Herein is love" — 1 Jxo. iv. 10. 
During the civil wars of Rome, a detachment of soldiers 
came to the residence of a certain man of high repute, 
with orders to arrest and hang him. A trusted servant 
of the man put on his master's official robe, and came out 
to meet the soldiers, delivering himself into their hands, 
as the one for whom they were searching. He was taken 
into custody, and executed without discovering the mis- 
take. What can be more noble than the servant giving 
his life to save his master ? Unless it be the master 
giving his life to save the servant ; and not only a servant, 
but a degraded, wicked, rebellious, sinful, debauched, 
servant. Oh ! the boundless love in such an act ; a vol- 
untary, free-will act that prompted God to give up his 
Son to die for a lost and perverse race of sinners. "Here- 



GOD'S LOVE TO MAX. 189 

in is love." Love as boundless as eternity. Friend, if 
God so loved your soul, is it asking too much of you to 
demand your love and service ? If the love that God 
bears your soul prompted him to give up his only begot- 
ten Son to save you. I ask is it trampling on your liberty 
and personal rights to ask you to give your heart to him, 
and your efforts to his cause ? I do not here design to 
argue the question, but to simply state it to you, and let 
you answer it. and settle it with your God. You under- 
stand the case, and are familiar with the consequences. 
I therefore leave it with you, and urge a decision 
TO-DAY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 



FOB THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN 
AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED." 

Acts iv. 12. 



191 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 



"lam the light of the world, he that follow eth me shall 
not walk in darkness, bat shall have the light of life." 

Jno. viii. 12. 

Very soon after Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of 
Scotland, she noticed what a powerful influence over her 
people John Knox commanded, and seeing the advisa- 
bility of gaining the good will of such a man, she suc- 
ceeded in attracting him to her palace. Knox appeared 
in his Calvanistic dress, a short cloak thrown over his 
shoulder, the Bible under his arm. The Queen, anxious 
to gain his favor, covered him with her flatteries. Ex- 
pecting she would soon ask of him the favor of which her 
winning talk foretold, he said, " Madam, words are more 
barren than the rocks ; Satan cannot prevail against a man 
whose left hand bears a light to illuminate his right." 
Oh, what a glorious provision Christ has made to help 
his children to walk in the narrow path. Victory over 
temptation, victory over sin, victory over Satan, and vic- 
tory over everlasting death, he has given those that come 
to God by him. Christ is the sum and substance of all 
Scripture, and he that carries in his heart the teachings 
of God's word, need not and shall not walk in darkness, 
but shall have the blessed light of life, Christ Jesus the 
Righteous, to guide him. " 1 will guide thee with mine 
eye,*' is the cheering word of our Redeemer, and may be 
applicable to you, dear reader. And if you have that 

193 



19-4 CHRIST THE OXLY WAY. 

unerring Light, what more do yon need ? If Jesus be for 
you, what harm can befall you. 

" Come to that light, 
'Tis shining for thee ; 
The light of the world is Jesus." 

" Kot everyone that saith unto me. Lord. Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of heaven : but he that doeth the 
will of my Father which is in heaven.'' 

Matt. vii. 21. 

It is told of Frederick of Prussia that one day as he was 
examining a class in the public school, he took out his 
watch, and asked the class to what kingdom of nature it 
belonged. " To the mineral kingdom/' was the reply. 
Xext he held up his cane, and asked, " To what kingdom 
does this belong ? M " To the vegetable kingdom,"' came 
the quick response. Then he stood before them, and 
again asked, " To what kingdom do I belong ? " A 
silence followed ; presently a little girl held up her hand, 
indicating that she had a solution to the problem ; the 
great Frederick bade her give her answer, which she did 
by saying, " To the heavenly kingdom."' 

Frederick was so overcome that he wept, and said. 
•• Would to God that every one of my subjects belonged 
to the kingdom of God." Reader, did you ever think 
what it is to belong to the kingdom of Him whose intense 
love broke down the barriers that kept you out of the king- 
dom of heaven ? Do you now know the sweet assurance 
of an abode in the everlasting kingdom of God ? 

Can you look forward with joy to the coming of your 
Lord, who has gone to prepare a place for you, that 
where he is. there you may be also ? Can you with Paul 
sav that vou know '-that if vour earthlv house of this 



CHRIST THE OXLY WAY. 195 

tabernacle be dissolved. 3*011 have a building of God, a 
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens " ? 
All these and more belong to the child of God, who gives 
his heart to Christ. 

All these and more are within your easy reach. 

All that is required of you is to give to Christ your 
heart, and rest on his unchanging love. 



"And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you ; 
seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto 
you.'' — Luke xi. 9. 

" Some years ago there lived in a village in Western 
England a young man, not considered very intelligent, 
and k-nown as 'Foolish Dick.' One day he was going 
to the well for a pitcher of water, when a good old man 
met him, and said, ' So, Dick, you are going to the well ? ' 
— 'Yes,' was the answer. 'Well, Dick, the woman of 
Samaria found Jesus at the well.' — 'Did she,' replied 
Dick. 'Yes,' said the Christian man. Dick passed on 
with the words riveted on his mind. The Holy Spirit 
touched his heart, and he said to himself, ' Why should 
I not find Jesus, too, at the well.' 

" He sought him, and found him then and there ; he left 
his pitcher, and went to his friends and told them of his 
find, at the same time proving his faith by seeking to 
lead others to the saving power of Christ." 

Take courage, unsaved one, and know that wherever 
you are, and whatever your life may be, Christ can be 
found if you seek him. Knock, and the door of Jesus's 
love will swing open unto you, and admit you to the 
saving power of the adorable Christ Jesus who waits to 
save you in all your sin. 



196 CHRIST THE OXLY WAY. 

"And I. if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all 

men unto me." — Jxo. xii. 32. 

It is told of Mr. Alfred Cookman that as he lay dying, 
a sweet smile rested on his face, and he said. '•' Jesus is 
drawing me closer and closer to his great heart of infinite 
love." And such has been the testimony of thousands of 
other trusting, faithful servants. Oh ! how sweet, when 
the shades of death are falling upon us, to feel the great, 
strong arm of a loving Saviour gently drawing us closer, 
and illuminating the dark valley of death with the glori- 
ous light of his presence. 

Then. too. what a wonderful thought it is that this 
promise extends as wide as the world, and as high as the 
heavens, and takes in the entire human family. Every 
race and kindred that will believe, every nation and 
tongue that will confess and trust, may be made par- 
takers of this drawing power of Christ our Lord, and be 
drawn from sin and sorrow, anguish and pain ; may be 
drawn from disappointments and bereavements, reverses 
and dangers : may be drawn from temptations and 
allurements, from Satan and his allied forces ; may be 
drawn from death unto life, from the power of Satan 
unto God: may be drawn from a degraded plane to a 
blest abode, and eternal life in the sweet haven of unend- 
ing felicity. 

Oh ! Christian, seek for a closer walk with him ! Oh, 
sinner, seek for an escape from your doom in him who 
was lifted up^ and who " ever liveth to make intercession 
for you." 

"lam the light of the world." — Jxo. ix. 5. 
The statue of Liberty enlightening the World, which 
stands on Bedloe's Island, in the harbor of New York, 



(Hi; 1ST THE OXLY WAY. 197 

stands out the most artistic conception of modern times. 
" The torch of the goddess lights the nations of earth to 
peace, prosperity, and progress, through liberty.'' My 
friend " liberty *' is an empty word to the thousands of 
sin-bound mortals whose taskmaster is an hundredfold 
more tyrannical than any king of ancient history. 

If dark forebodings come to you, if across the horizon 
of the future comes dark clouds, if your present course 
threatens to overwhelm you in despair, let me point you 
to the Cross of Calvary, and there read these memorable 
words of onr Saviour, "I am the light of the world." 
Shedding the rays far and wide for every one to " guide 
you into all truth," and land you in immortal glory. 

" Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : be not dismayed ; 
for Tarn thy God." — Isa. xli. 10. 

I read once from the Christian Standard a very im- 
pressive little illustration of this text. 

•• A lady had a favorite text which she frequently 
repeated, and which was included in a collection she 
used for daily help. ' Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; 
be not dismayed, for I am thy God ; I will strengthen 
thee ; yea I will uphold thee by the right hand of my 
righteousness.' On the morning of the day she died, it 
was repeated by her bedside, with the remark that it was 
the text for the day. When she looked up amid her 
pain, and said, ' Is that the text for to-day ? ' And on 
being informed that it was, she replied, ; Oh, then, I will 
just go home on that.' " 

Dear reader, there will come a time when you and I 
will need something that this world cannot give. There 
will come to you and to me an hour when we will need 
some strong arm to support us. I leave you this one 



198 CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 

question to decide for yourself. Is there in this world 
anything that will support you in that trying hour ? If 
you have found it, you have made a discovery that thou- 
sands have in past ages, searched for. If you cannot find 
it, let me point you to the Lamb of God that taketh away 
the fear of death, and enables you to possess this assur- 
ance, " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death I will fear no evil, for thy rod and thy staff they 
comfort me." This is the song of the redeemed of God 
as they leave this world, and enter into the joys of their 
Lord. May this, dear friend, be made your song. 

" Commit thy way unto the Lord." — Ps. xxxvii. 5. 

Xo matter how low down you are, no matter what your 
disposition has been, you may be vile in your thoughts, 
words, and actions ; you may be selfish ; your heart may 
be overflowing with wickedness and corruption ; yet 
Jesus will have compassion upon you, he will speak com- 
forting words to you : not treat you coldly, or spurn you 
as perhaps those of earth would, but speak tender words, 
— words of love and affection and kindness." — Moody. 

" A friend that sticketh closer than a brother " awaits 
to walk with you along the journey of life, and to aid 
you in the vexing difficulties that will come to you. Dear 
soul, " commit thy way unto the Lord," confess thyself 
unable to battle against the wiles of Satan. He will 
come to thy rescue, relieve thee of thy burden, and make 
you free indeed. "Will you commit your way unto him ? 

"A broken and a contrite heart, God, thou wilt not 
desjiise." — Ps. li. 17. 

Martin Luther went one day to see a lad who lay 
dying. Among the questions asked him was this : 



(II HIST THE 02TLY WAY. 199 

•• Wliat will you take with you to God ? " — " Everything 
that is good," was the reply. " How can you, a poor sin- 
ner, take anything' to God? " asked the great man. "I 
will take to God in heaven an humble and a contrite 
heart, sprinkled with the blood of Christ/' was the reply 
of the dying boy. " Go then, dear son, you will be a 
welcome guest with God," responded Luther. 

Blessed thought ! " A broken and a contrite heart, 
God, thou wilt not despise." But with tender, loving 
hands reach forth, and take unto thy bosom. Oh, soul ! 
herein is a sufficiency ; herein is a balm for all thy ills ; 
herein is a cloak for all thy shortcomings ; herein is a 
refuge in time of storm ; herein is a harbor for thy frail 
craft ; herein is a promise that will bear thee up as thou 
walkest through the dark valley. " Oh, praise the Lord 
for his' goodness." 



" Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where 
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
through and steal : hut lay up for yourselves treasures in 
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal." 

Matt. vi. 19, 20. 

A young lady had been to church, and listened to the 
earnest plea of the preacher calling on the unsaved to 
accept Christ. She went home in deep thought, feel- 
ing a need of something she had not. She felt that she 
could hardly give up her worldly pleasures ; yet her soul 
was not at ease. After dinner was over, she took her 
Bible, as was her custom to do on Sunday afternoons, 
and went to a shady spot in the garden to read. Near 
her was a flower-bed, and her attention was called to the 
buzzing of a bee. She turned and watched the little 



200 CHRIST TBE ONLY WAY. 

creature as it extracted the sweet from the bloom ; pres- 
ently the bee had accumulated all it could well carry, 
and took its flight to the hive to deposit its load, where 
it would be preserved for its sustenance during the long 
winter months. As she watched its course, the thought 
came to her, " That little creature is doing exactly what 
I am ; he is laying by a store. The moth will come and 
rob it of all its hard earnings, and leave it to suffer and 
perish in midwinter, when all the flowers are withered 
and dead, and nothing left to sustain it. I will here and 
now turn my course." On opening her Bible to look for 
some words to guide her, her eyes met those of our text, 
and she turned her course, determined to build upon the 
solid foundation, even Jesus Christ, and place her treas- 
ures in his keeping, against the great day when we all 
" shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ." 

Oh ! how foolish to build the foundation of our hopes 
upon the sandy soil of worldliness, and when the waves 
of time shall beat against it, it gives away, and we find 
ourselves in the hour of great need, a wreck. Friendly 
reader, where are you placing your treasures ? 



" Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for 
you." — 1 Pet. v. 7. 

Two gentlemen were one day walking past a very 
beautiful mansion, and met a miserable-looking, ragged 
beggar, who asked them for a small sum with which to 
buy something to eat. 

Each of the gentlemen placed a piece of money in his 
hand, and in their conversation one of them asked him, 
who owned this beautiful mansion. " Why," said the 

beggar, " that was the residence of Mr. B ." " What 

a happy lot must be his/' said one of the gentlemen. 



(II HIsT THE OXLY WAY. 201 

•• Nay, friend." said the beggar, " he was the most miser- 
able man on earth. His misery became at last unbear- 
able, and he put an end to his existence by taking his 
own life. He trusted everything to riches ; he amassed 
great wealth, and lived in the grandest style ; disease 
overtook him, pain racked his frame, he lost his family, 
sorrow came upon him, he had no one on whom to lay 
his burden. He knew not Christ, and in order to escape 
his misery, he ended his own life." Not so with the soul 
that trusts in God. Though reverses come to him, and 
bereavements almost crush his heart, though sore trials 
and divers temptations fall on him, though sorrows and 
afflictions befall him. still he finds comfort in his God. 
When earthly sympathy forsakes him, and friends cast 
him off, yet he finds a refuge in the God of his salvation. 
Reader, have you learned to cast on Christ the burden of 
your heart ? He careth for you. His great heart melts 
m sympathy as he beholds you. His great arm of love 
delights to reach out to you, and bear your burdens, and 
in words of tenderness says to you, " Come unto me. I 
will give yon rest." " Cast all your care upon him, for 
he careth for you." 

" The son of man is come to seek and to save that which 
ivas lost." — Luke xix. 10. 

Almost a century ago a collier, living in the vicinity of 
a great coal mine, was awakened one night by loud cries 
from the direction of the mines. He arose and went to 
the door, to more exactly locate the cry ; presently he 
heard a voice, crying, Lost ! lost .' lost ! He hastily 
dressed himself, and, seizing his lantern, set out on his 
errand of mercy. He had gone only a short distance 
when he came to where the lost man stood. He found 



1>02 CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 

him standing on the brink of a very deep shaft, with 
only one step between him and death. 

Would to God that you. my unsaved reader, might see 
your great danger, and cry out. lost ! lost ! that the great 
light of Christ might shine around you and guide you 
from the pit of eternal death to the port of life everlast- 
ing. For you He left his heavenly home, and came to earth 
'•to seek and to save." You are now on the brink of 
the bottomless pit. Oh, that you could realize that you 
are lost. 



11 1 am the light of the world: he that followeth me 
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
life" — Jxo. viii. 12. 

Mr. Peloubet says, "Once when half sick, full of 
doubts, unable to realize God or heaven, or feel the full 
assurance of hope, I was sailing across the Bay of Fundy 
in a thick fog in the night — a symbol of my spiritual 
condition. During the night I was awakened by the 
sharp whistles, the stopping and starting of the engine. 
and went on deck. For half an hour I watched the 
captain, with whom I was acquainted. I saw the precau- 
tions he took, how he sounded with the plummet, and 
listened for the fog bell ; how carefully he sailed his 
steamer. I returned to my room and slept, saying. ' I 
can trust such a captain as that.' Then I said to my- 
self, ' How much more can I trust my Heavenly Father 
and my Saviour, even in the darkest and dreariest 
night.' " 

How sweet to the doubting soul is the assurance found 
by returning to Christ, and pleading his sufficiency to 
give to our hungry souls the Bread of Life, — and to show 
us the light of his countenance. 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. £03 

•• If the Sou therefore shall make you free, ye shall be 
free indeed" — Jxo viii. 36 

I remember reading a very beautiful allegory in 
which the dreamer saw the world as an inn by the sea- 
side, where no one could live longer than one day, and 
from which the majority were taken before noon. On 
account of the behavior of the occupants, the inn was in 
very bad repair. The king, to whom the inn belonged, 
greatly loved the people, and sent his only son, whom he 
dearly loved, to provide a means of escape for the peo- 
ple from their present and future perils. Strange to relate, 
they treated him in a most shocking and cruel manner, 
and finally drove him out at the gate through which 
each one must pass sooner or later, and which they very 
much dreaded. Those who persisted in their acts of re- 
bellion against the king, were ruthlessly dragged away 
in chains and cast into slavery, where they were treated 
in a very ill manner. Those who accepted the terms of 
reconciliation provided by the prince were transferred to 
a land a very great way off, where they were allowed to 
serve the king, and were presented faultless before him, 
and were given free access to his palace. 

The visit of the king's son to the inn was the one 
great event in its history. The usual garments worn by 
the occupants were declared utterly unfit for the voyage 
that all must take, and altogether out of keeping with 
the occasion of the prince's visit. So the prince pro- 
vided a great wardrobe in which were robes of exquisite 
beauty and richness, pure and white as the driven snow, 
and for each occupant of the inn. The coin in circula- 
tion at the inn was pronounced counterfeit, and of no 
value whatever at the court of the king. So he estab- 
lished a great treasury for them, filling it with his own 



204 CHRIST THE ONLY WAT. 

riches, and then sent forth an edict, saying that every- 
one that made personal application should be made rich, 
and none that applied should be turned away empty- 
handed. 

The gate of departure was so narrow, and presented an 
appearance so very gloomy and desolate, that it held in 
constant dread all the dwellers at the inn. When the 
prince was driven through the gate, he tarried long 
enough to let the unseen hands shoot all their arrows 
into his own body, that those that followed him should be 
relieved of the terrible dread of having their bodies 
pierced with the poisonous darts. 

Those that followed the prince through the dark path- 
way could sing as they passed through " ! death, where 
is thy sting ? ! grave, where is thy victory ? " As the 
prince passed through this dark scene, his hands and feet 
were terribly lacerated, his body was pierced, water and 
blood flowed from his wounds, in his anguish he cried 
out aloud, " It is finished," and returned to his father. 
Dear friend, do you detect anything in this narrative 
that is familiar to you ? Does it not sound somewhat 
like the story of the only begotten Son of God who left 
his throne in heaven and came to earth to suffer and die 
for you and I, that we might escape the piercing darts 
of sin and condemnation, and be relieved of our depraved 
nature ? " God so loved the world that he gave his only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life." Do you believe ? 



" Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." 

Matt. vi. 20. 

"When the Emperor Licinius (A. D. 300) ordered forty 
Christians to be martyred, his chief governor tried all 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 205 

manner of ways to draw them from Christ. As a last 
resort, lie offered each a goodly sum of money to confess 
their error and forsake Jesus. It is said they spurned 
his offer and cried out with one consent, "Eternity! 
Eternity ! gives money that will supply every desire, and 
glory that far surpasses that of your emperor, who will 
soon lay aside his flimsy honor and be imprisoned in 
woe. 1 ' Oh ! what rich treasures await such love as this, 
Oh, what glory awaits him who has laid up in heaven his 
treasures. Gentle friend, has it been your lot to seek the 
perishable treasures of earth ? has it been your desire to 
live for the present ? let me invite, yea urge you to turn, 
turn to Christ with all your heart and lay up for yourself 
riches that will fade not away, and glory and honor, 
peace, and joy through all eternity. 



" Set your affections on things above, not on things on the 
earth." — Col. iii. 2. 

When a certain king lay on his death bed, and felt the 
cold hand of death laid heavily upon him, he turned to 
his weeping wife and said : " Love not this vain world ; 
as one who stands on the brink of eternity, I warn you 
to make not the follies of this world your god. I have 
let Satan ruin my soul by weaving around me the pleas- 
ures and follies of this life, I now leave it all without 
one hope in the future." When he had thus spoken, he 
sank back lifeless. 

Friendly sinner, how is it with thee ? has the god of 
this world entangled you ? have the petty follies of this 
life laid fast hold upon you ? You too may be called 
upon to leave it all, and pass away without (me hope in 
the future. Set not your affections on things on the 
earth ! As dry chaff the wrath of God consumes them 



206. CHBIST THE OXLY WAY. 

and takes away everything that supports yon. In the 
twinkling of an eye the fierce anger of Jehovah will 
consume them and leave yon unsupported when support 
is so much needed. Set. therefore, --your affections on 
things above." upon things whose foundation rests on the 
Solid Eock — even Christ Jesus. Set your affections 
upon that which, when the storms of life beat, and the 
tempest rages, and the fierce winds roar, and the mad 
waves roll high, you will find security, peace, and safety. 
because you have builded upon a solid foundation, of 
which Jesus Christ is the head and chief corner-stone. 
The placing of the affections thus will make the dark 
valley of death aglow with light, and the dying couch 
only a bed of sweet repose, whereon the eyes close 
in sleep, and the immortal soul awakes in eternal 
glory. 

•-He only is my rod: and my salvation" — Ps. lxii. 6. 

A few years ago a heavily laden passenger train on one 
of the Eastern railroads was rounding a sharp curve when 
the engineer saw two children playing on the track : he 
pulled the reverse lever, and blew the whistle, but the 
children seemed not to hear it. or to see their great dan- 
ger. As the great train came almost upon them, the 
sister seized her little brother, and snugly tucked him 
away in the niche of an immense rock : and as the train 
passed by, he clapped his little hands until it was out of 
sight, as if defying it to harm him. 

So is he that makes Christ his rock, and his salvation. 
The hosts of hell may come nigh unto him, the innumer- 
able temptations and devices of Satan may press hard 
upon him. but he can clap his hands, and defy them to 
harm him. because he is hid in The Rod-. Dear troubled 
soul, are the marshalled hosts of Satan at thy heels ? Are 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 207 

the combined devices of hell's train constantly in thy 

pathway ? Is the army of worldly temptations surround- 
ing thee '.' Get thyself to the Rock of thy salvation, and 
thou shalt find refuge in the "Rock of Ages/'' where thou 
mayest go in and out in peace, and find rest unto your 
troubled soul. And be 

" Safe in the arms of Jesus, 
Safe on his gentle breast, 
There by his love o'ershadowed, 
Sweetly your soul shall rest." 

"And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he 
shall separate them one from another.''' Matt. xxv. 32. 

In the early history of gold mining, the miners would 
put the ore into a pan of quicksilver with a copper bot- 
tom ; the chemical action amalgamated the gold with the 
copper and separated it from the foreign substances 
which were thrown away. So it will be at the last great 
day. Christ will come and separate the good, leaving the 
bad to be cast away. Reader, which will be your por- 
tion ? As you read these lines, your decision may deter- 
mine this great question. 

Oh ! that I might help you to decide it. Will you de- 
liberately choose that which will forever shut you out of 
heaven, or will you choose Christ " The Only Way," and 
thus find rest unto your waiting soul ? 

"And I, if I be lifted upfront the earth, ivill draw all 
men unto me" — Jxo. xii. 32. 

As a heathen ruler lay on his death bed, with the as- 
surance that he would soon stand before his God, he 
commanded his attendants to make a cross, and lay him 
on it that he might breathe his last thereon. As the 
breath was leaving his body, he realized what Christ had 



208 CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 

done for him. and turning his eyes heavenward, exclaimed, 
•• It lifts me ! it lifts me ! it lifts me ! " and passed to his 
eternal abode trusting in his Saviour. "Wonderful truth, 
as broad as the ocean, and as high as the heavens. It 
lifts the lost sinner from the lowest dregs of sin, and fits 
him to stand before the heavenly Tribunal in spotless 
purity. It lifts the wayward feet from the miry clay of 
selfish appetite, and places them upon the Solid Eock. It 
lifts the sin-sick soul from the pit of despair, and estab- 
lishes his goings under the all-seeing eye of God. It lifts 
the heart bowed down by bereavement, and makes it to 
rejoice in the undying love of God Almighty. It lifts 
the soul overflowed with trouble and vexations, and 
surplants it in the sweet peace that passeth all under- 
standing. 

It lifts the penitent, seeking soul out of the snares of 
old Satan, and binds up the wound with the balm of eter- 
nal life in Christ. It lifts the feet of the faithful servant 
from this weary life, and gently lands him into the eter- 
nal joys of the realities of heaven above. It lifts the 
tempted out of the path of temptation, and bids hell and 
all its forces to come thus far. and no farther. 

Kind reader, it will lift your feet out of the broad road 
to everlasting destruction, and place you in the path lead- 
ing to immortal glory, where at last you will mingle your 
voice with that of the redeemed of heaven, in a world 
without end. May you prostrate yourself at the foot of 
the cross, and be lifted up to him who said, " I, if I be 
lifted up. will draw all men unto me." 

"I am the light of the world : he that folloiceth me 
shall not walk in darkness." 1 — Jxo. viii. 12. 

•■During our late war. a prisoner one night escaped 
from prison, and succeeded in getting beyond the picket 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 209 

lines. When he had gotten away from the light of the 

ramp fire, he found it so dark that he could not tell north 
from south, and for fear of moving toward the enemy's 
ranks he gave up in despair, and sat down to meditate 
what course to pursue. Presently he saw a tire-bug fly- 
ing near him ; he reached out his hand and caught it ; 
holding it near his pocket-compass he was able to locate 
the point of the needle, and safely made his escape." 

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He that fol- 
loweth him shall not walk in darkness, for "I will guide 
thee with mine eye.*' Oh ! cast-down soul are you de- 
spairing of escape from the darkness of this world ? do 
the chains of Satan hold you fast ? does the darkness 
gather thick about thee ? do the waves of despair nearly 
overflow thee ? "Come to that light, it is shining for 
thee." - You need not grope in darkness when the pene- 
trating rays of the Light of the World are about thee. 

While the enemy is nigh 
Quickly to thy Saviour fly ; 
To this glorious shining light 
Sinner ilee with all thy might. 

Then this light not only guides you out of despair and 
groping darkness, but it guides you to walk in the path 
along which lighthouses stand to guide you, and save 3^011 
from the rocks and reefs, and at last lights you through 
the " valley of the shadow of death," and lands you in 
immortal glory with the redeemed of God and the Lamb. 

"Brood is the way that leadeth to destruction.'''' 

Matt. vii. 13. 
During the earlier history of our western country, it 
was sometimes the custom of the railroad companies to 
run their trains from the east on the wide gauge roads, 



210 CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 

and then to take out the trucks and put under narrow 
gauged trucks, and send the train over the western 
roads. 

Gentle reader, if you and I ever get to heaven, it will 
be on the narrow gauge way. We will have to go to 
Christ, and have the wide gauge foundation removed 
from under us. and have it replaced with trucks that fit 
the narrow way : for " broad is the way that leadeth to 
destruction.'' If you and I ever get to heaven, it will 
be by being reconstructed and made to fit the track 
which Jesus Christ has laid, and - other foundation can 
no man lay." The foundation upon which you stand is 
broad, and its terminus is destruction. Will you allow 
Satan to register you as one of the man}' that gather 
there, or will you have God's grace to fit you for ever- 
lasting life '.' 

" To him that knocketh. it shall be opened." 

Matt. vii. 8. 

A lad who had been blind from infancy was restored to 
sight. The oculist, after having operated upon him, put 
a heavy bandage over his eyes, and after a few weeks 
had gone by, the bandage was removed ; when the light 
met his e\~es, and he realized that he could see, he 
turned to his mother, and said, "Oh! mamma, is this, 
heaven ? " 

So is the soul born into the blessed light of Christ's 
love. As the scales fall from his eyes, well may he 
exclaim, " Is this heaven ? " Then, too. this is a free 
gift. Our Saviour said, " To him (every one) that 
knocketh it shall be opened.'' Nothing on our part but 
simply ask, and Christ bestows on us the spiritual sight 
rhat will serve to guide us into the eternal joys of God's 
presence. Reader, will you come to him ? 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 211 

" Whom having not seen, >/e love." — 1 Pet. i. 8. 

The feasibility of loving one whom we have never 
.seen is beautifully illustrated by the following incident. 

An elder brother of a large family of children crossed 
the plains during the gold excitement of 1849 and 1850. 
He remained absent many years. Soon after his de- 
parture a sister was born, and as the years rolled by she 
grew to womanhood. She had never seen her elder 
brother, yet through his letters she had ofttimes heard 
of him, and had learned to love him quite as dearly as 
either of the brothers or sisters. 

Our Saviour says, " Blessed are they that have not 
seen, and yet have believed."' 

Satan sometimes makes us believe that the record of 
Jesus is too frail for our philosophic minds to rest upon, 
and in our search for a foundation, he leads us farther 
and farther from Christ, and at last we land at hell's 
door, where our religion of philosophy and science perish 
with us. Oh ! doubting minds, let us take Christ as he 
is, and not let Satan mix up his poisonous unbelief into 
our religion. 

"Be thou my strong rock, for an. house of defence to 
save me." — Ps. xxxi. 2. 

Kev. Edwin M. Long relates the following incident. 
He says, " One morning a village on the Pacific coast 
was thrown into consternation by tidings that fragments 
of a wrecked vessel were floating about the harbor. 
A passenger vessel Avas due that day, and steamers were 
at once despatched to make search ; it soon became evi- 
dent that a terrible wreck had taken place, and probably 
all on board had perished. The excitement in the little city 
was intense. The remains of a number of the passengers 



'212 CHRIST THE OXLY WAY. 

were picked up along the coast. On the following day. 
word came that a human voice had been heard high up 
among the rocks. Search was at once instituted, and 
men were let down, by ropes, among the rocks. At last 
one poor fellow was found in the cleft of a rock, and 
safely rescued. From his statement, it appeared the 
ship had drifted helplessly against the rocks, and was 
dashed to pieces, and all on board perished saye himself, 
who was carried by a wave to the cleft in the rock." 
Safe is he who makes Christ his rock of defence and 
house of refuge. Though the tierce waves of tempta- 
tion assail him. they can never overflow him. Though 
the storms of Satan's allied forces seek to draw him 
down, the Bock in which he hides is unmovable. 

Happy is he who sings, " On Christ the solid rock I 
stand, all other ground is sinking sand.'' Wise is he 
who builds the hope of his immortal glory upon the 
"Rock of Ages."' Reader, let me ask you a candid 
question. When the storm of death comes to your door, 
and you find the fierce waves carrying your frail bark 
toward that awful abyss of darkness, what can you find 
to anchor to ? 

You now have an opportunity of anchoring to the 
Solid Rock. Christ Jesus, who alone can hold you amid 
the storms that come to you in this life, and who alone 
can support you in that trying hour of death. What will 
you do with this great question ? 

"When he had found one pearl of great price, went and 
sold all that lie had and bought it.'' — Matt. xiii. 46. 

A few years ago there was on exhibition in the show 
window of a jeweller, a large and magnificent diamond. 
The jeweller had placed it there as an advertisement. 

One evening three men drove up to the store, quickly 



(II hist tiif: OXLY WAY. 21 8 

alighted, and with a large stick smashed the great plate- 
glass window, and seizing the diamond drove swiftly away. 
Detectives were put on their track, and after a long and 
fruitless search they abandoned the case. The thieves 
hail risked all they possessed to gain this pearl ; their 
liberty, their reputation, the honest toil of their hands, — 
all were at stake. 

So, my friend, if the pearl of eternal life requires it, we 
should willingly sacrifice every other object to gain it. 
It will be capital placed at an enormous rate of interest. 
But thanks be to God for giving his Son to open up and 
make a way so clear, so easy, and so inviting that " who- 
soever believeth shall not perish, but have everlasting 
life." And whosoever means yon. 

" He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised 
for our iniquities."' — Isa. liii. 5. 

A wicked king rode out one day to view his army, as 
it was his custom to do at certain intervals. He rode 
down one line, and up another until it became monoto- 
nous, and he bethought of a novel plan to amuse himself, 
by riding at full speed through the ranks to see the sol- 
diers scamper away from danger. Suddenly his steed 
became frightened, and dashed away, trying at every leap 
to throw his rider. The king was powerless to check his 
gait, and cried loudly for help. A man sprang in front 
of the animal, and with an iron-like grasp seized the 
bridle, and checked him — not, however, until he had 
been dragged some distance and bruised and mangled 
almost beyond recognition. The king dismounted, and 
found his rescuer dead at his feet ; wounded for the king's 
transgression of the laws of brotherhood, and bruised for 
his heart's iniquity. 

My gentle reader, you have treated in a far more shock- 



214 CUEIST THE ONLY WAT. 

ing manner the dear Son of God, who gave his life to 
rescue }^ou from an eternal death. 

Your actions say ■• away with him, I will not have him 
rule over me," I am able to care for my own self. But, 
my friend, when your grasp on this world is released by 
death's cold hand, and your support all gone, let me ask 
you this question : On what will you depend for support ? 
Jesus Christ ceases then to plead for you, but sits to 
pronounce sentence upon you, ''Depart from me." What, 
friend, will support you through this trying ordeal ? the 
world you have left behind ? the Saviour of mankind 
you have rejected ? — who will deliver you from the body 
of that awful death awaiting the lost soul ? 

"Behold, I have set before thee an open door.'''' 

Eev. iii. 8. 

Dr. Xewton tells of a man who dreamed that he was 
in the midst of a large field, hedged in on all sides with 
thunderings, lightnings, and hailstorms. The dreamer 
thought he saw houses in the distance, and making to- 
ward one of them he craved admittance, till the storm 
was over. " Who art thou ? " asked the master. The 

dreamer replied, "I am Mr. ." — "And I," said the 

master of the house, " am called Justice ; from me you 
must not look for comfort." 

The dreamer set out to reach another house in hopes 
of finding shelter. His knock on the door was responded 
to by Truth — one that he had never loved, so therefore 
must expect to find no shelter there. He looked around, 
and saw not a great way off, another house. Summing 
up what courage he had left, he pleaded for admission. 
This was the home of Peace, whom he did not know. In 
despair he resolved to try once more at the next door ; 
here he was admitted. This was the house of Mercy, 



CHRIST THE ONLY WAY. 21 o 

and the dreamer was taken in, and made welcome. So 
it is with the poor sinner when the habitations of Justice, 
Truth, and Peace are closed against him, the door of 
Christ's Mercy stands wide open to admit all who will 
enter. When once admitted through this door, the apart- 
ments of Joy, Peace, Truth, and Justice will also welcome 
you too. " No man cometh to the Father but by me." 

Friend, art thou looking for Peace, Joy, and Rest of 
soul ? These all stand wide open to you, but in order to 
be admitted you must first enter the door of Christ's 
Mercy, or you can never bask in the pleasures and beauty 
of the others. Christ this very moment stands calling to 
you, " I am the door, by me if any man enter, he shall 
find rest unto his soul." 

" Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh 
about, seeking whom he may devour" — 1 Pet. v. 8. 

On the morning of July 30, 1864, near Petersburg, 
Va., a terrific explosion was heard. A moment later, as 
the dense smoke cleared away, the eye could see the 
immense heap of ruins of the once strongly fortified fort 
of the Southern forces. For days the enemy had been 
secretly at work digging an underground passage, which, 
when completed, enabled them to place under the fort a 
great amount of powder, which blew it to atoms. 

All this time, while the enemy was at work undermin- 
ing them, they felt secure, but all at once they were 
hurled into death. The unsaved often go the same way by 
letting their sins undermine them ; and in a moment 
they are hurled into eternity without time in which to 
make the least preparation to meet their God. 

How often, too, do we find persons who feel their 
great need of something more than this world. Vet who 
refuse to let go some secret sin, which is continually 



216 CHRISl' THE ONLY WAY. 

undermining them, and destroying their immortal souls. 
Like the young man who came to Christ, and went away 
sorrowful, preferring to trust in his morality than to 
give up his pet sin. Reader, are you trusting to the 
letting go of almost all your sins for salvation ? Let 
me tell you that unless 3*011 forsake all, and come to 
Christ, you cannot be his disciple. One thing thou 
lackest ; it is Jesus Christ in your heart ; it is the appli- 
cation of his cleansing blood to your soul. L'nless you 
have this, you might just as well go into eternity with a 
million sins as a hundred. I say to you, ''One thing 
thou lackest" ; that is Christ. 

"A refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat." 

Isa. xxv. 4. 

Xot long since, a gentleman was passing through one 
of the Middle States, and saw from the car window a 
room cut in a huge rock. Upon inquiry he learned that 
it was a place of refuge from the terrible cyclones that 
pass over certain portions of the country. The citizens 
living in that vicinity had made this a place of refuge to 
shield them from the raging tempest. But, friend, there 
is a Refuge from the storm of God's fierce wrath, and a 
Shadow from the scorching heat of Jehovah's anger, even 
Jesus Christ the righteous. 

" Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able 
to kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to 
destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. x. 28). 
Happy the man who seeks refuge in the ' ; Rock of 
A^ges," where the storms of hell shall not prevail against 
him, and whereunto the devices of Satan shall not 
reach. Blessed is the man who makes God his refuge, 
and who stands upon the solid Rock, Christ Jesus ; he 
shall be likened unto a man who built his house on a 



(II III ST THE OXLY WAY. 217 

rock, and when the winds come and the fierce waves of 
Satan lash against it, it shall firmly stand, because 
"greater is he that is for ns than he that is against us.*' 
Reader, do waves of worldliness beat fierce upon thy 
frail bark ? Fly for refuge to a compassionate Saviour. 
Do the storms of gross sins almost sink thy drifting 
sail ? Fly for refuge to the Rock of Ages. Do the 
winds of despair almost upset thy feeble ship ? Fly to 
him who spake to the sea and it obeyed his voice. Do 
the evil f orbodings of an endless future haunt thy course ? 
Seek that Port where storms never come. Does the life 
beyond rise like a great mountain of darkness and des- 
pair ? Fly to that haven of rest and peace found in 
Jesus Christ, the solid Rock and everlasting Refuge. 

" Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest." 

11 1 am the way, the truth, and the life." — Jno. xiv. 6. 

A gentleman was travelling over a mountain in Mon- 
tana, before that country was settled. He was on the 
top of a very high peak, when night overtook him, and 
the blinding snowstorm and intense cold made his con- 
dition one not to be envied ; he was cold and hungry, 
and decided to stop and wait until morning. He rode a 
little out of the way to find a place to tie his horse, 
when his eye caught the rays of a candle light. His 
heart leaped with joy, and he turned his steps toward it. 
He soon found himself at the door of a little cabin, and 
knocked fur admittance. The owner welcomed him in, 
and treated him kindly. 

Happy is he that seeks a light to guide him from the 
path of sin to faith in Christ. To such an one Jesus says, 
" I am the way, the truth, and the life. He that follow- 
eth me shall not walk in darkness." 



CHAPTEE XV. 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 



MIGHTY TO SAVE/ 7 

Isa. lxiii. 1. 



219 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 



'■ Return unto me, and I will return unto you." 

Mal. iii. 7. 
A certain king was presented with a magnificent, richly 
jewelled crown by one of his subjects who was living in 
open rebellion against him. The king sent the crown 
back to the giver with these words, "return first to your 
allegiance, and then I will accept the crown as a token 
of your loyalty." Just so with a multitude of self-right- 
eous men who expect to gain the favor of God by occas- 
ionally giving certain sums to advance his cause while 
at the same time living the very reverse of his require- 
ments. Satan-devised delusion ! Oh, man ! your acts of 
service will never reach heaven's records. You must 
first return to God with joxxy heart ere your service will 
find favor with Him, and in returning to God, He will 
meet you, and accept you. On the other hand, all the 
morality in the world cannot save you, unless you first 
accept Christ, who is the foundation of salvation. 

" God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto him- 
self." —2 Con. v. 19. 

" A certain stubborn, reckless youth had a violent quar- 
rel with his kind father, and after stealing money from 
his drawer, ran away. A year or two afterward the 
father learned that the scapegrace was in London, living 
fast, and drinking hard. 

221 



222 CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 

He employed a detective to ascertain his son's where- 
abouts ; and at length the officer found him, shattered and 
sick, in a house of infamy. The father hastened to the 
spot, and the words, ' That youth is my son,' were the 
passport to the room. As the father aroused the wretched 
youth, who turned his bloated face and bloodshot eyes 
toward him, his first words were, ' My poor boy, I have 
come after you ; will you come home ? ' In a flood of 
tears the subdued rebel sobbed out, 'Father, can you 
forgive me ? Then I will go home with you.' " — T. L. 
Cuyler. 

So it is when the penitent sinner comes to Christ. His 
past sins rise up before him, and haunt his memory, and 
the first thing he wants to do is to see them washed away. 
Thanks be to God that Christ is ever ready and willing 
to wash them away, and present the believer before his 
Father in spotless purity. 

Oh ! unsaved soul, do you want your sins washed away ? 
do you want to be reconciled to God ? do you want 
Christ's presence with you in life ? do you want to give 
your life to Christ because he gave his life for you ? do 
you want his strong arm in the hour of death ? do you 
want life eternal, and an abode with the blest ? if you 
do, then come to Christ, and take him for your personal 
Saviour. Come, as if you were the only person -in the 
world, and make him your refuge, and he will receive 
you and be your God, and you shall be his son. 



" He that . . . hateth his brother is in darkness." 

1 Jno. ii. 9. 

Mr. Moody relates the following story of a young lady 
that attended one of his revival services. After he had 
finished his sermon, and was walking down the aisle, he 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 223 

spoke to a young lady, and asked her if she was a Chris- 
tian. She said, no ; she could never be a Christian as 
long as that lady, pointing to a member of the congrega- 
tion, was recognized as such. She did not think her 
case more hopeless than that one, and many others. Oh ! 
what a hell-devised pit is this which Satan thrusts be- 
fore thousands of poor creatures to drag them down to 
woe. Oh ! that the very finger of God would move across 
the heavens, and write, " Every man shall answer for his 
sins." 

Reader, are you thus deluded ? Remember, you must 
personally appear before " the great white throne " to 
answer for what you have done. You will not, as Satan 
may tell you, be called upon to answer for any other than 
your own sin ; but bear in mind if you meet God with 
only your own sin, you will be condemned and rejected. 
All the sins of earth would not any more condemn you. 
God cannot tolerate the least sin, and unless Christ in- 
terpose, and take your sin on himself, you are lost. But 
he says " Come unto me, though your sins be as scarlet 
they shall be as snow." He will willingly pardon and 
save you. For this he came to earth, for this he left his 
heavenly glory, — now he says, " Come, for all things are 
now ready." 

" Forgetting those things which are behind, and reach- 
ing forth unto those things which are before." 

Phil. iii. 13. 

When Archimedes made a very important scientific 
discovery, he was about stepping into a bath. Forgetting 
his clothes, he ran through the street, crying, "I have 
found it ! I have found it ! " But the discoveries of all 
ages are nothing to compare with that of a single soul 
who finds Jesus Christ. How his heart goes out in love 



224 CHRIST'S WILLIXGXESS TO SAVE. 

as he seeks to draw others unto the cleansing fount of 
Christ Jesus, and while the heavens resound with the 
glad songs of angels, he desires to tell what great things 
the Lord hath done for him. 



•- But I v ill punish you according to the fruit of your 
doings, saith the Lord.''' — Jek. xxi. 14. 

" In Ethiopia there is found a stone which has two 
opposite and peculiar qualities ; while one side attracts 
the iron toward it, the other side repels it. 

So God has two hands ; the one of mercy, the other of 
judgment ; the one of love, the other of wrath. "While 
with one he has opened a fountain where we may wash 
away our sins, with the other he casts the rebellious 
spirit into eternal torment. While he holds one out- 
stretched to receive the penitent sinner, with the other 
he forever casts off the evil doer." 

Reader on which side are you ? 



"If we confess our sins, he (Christ) is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un- 
righteousness" — 1 Jxo. i. 9. 

A merchant of London, eminent for his wealth and 
commercial position, had an only son upon whom he had 
bestowed every luxury that money could buj~, and upon 
whom the hopes of the father centred. The favored 
son grew to manhood with every prospect of becoming 
the successor to his father's vast riches. 

But he fell into bad company, and went from bad to 
worse, regardless of the earnest expostulations of his 
father, until he sank to such a depth of degradation, 
that his father refused to have more to do with him, and 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 2'2o 

cast him off; he erased his name from the family record. 
and disinherited him. 

Years went by, and the father lost all trace of his once 
brilliant son. One day, a gentleman drove hurriedly up 
the beautiful driveway to the elegant mansion of the 
father ; he was met at the door by a servant, the gentle- 
man asked to see without delay the great merchant. He 
was shown to the library, where he met an aged, haughty- 
It 'oking man, surrounded by every luxury money could 
procure. 

The gentleman without introducing himself asked, 
'• Have you a son named Joseph " ? 

"No, sir, I have no such son," replied the haughty 
man, " I had at one time a bright, lovely boy by that 
name ; but he is no longer my son. I long since dis- 
inherited him, he rebelled against me, and left my roof 
by his own folly." 

"But, sir, I just came from your son, who now lies at 
the point of death, and desires that you will come and 
forgive him, ere he crosses the dark river." The father 
quickly arose, and followed the messenger, who took 
him to a miserable side street tenement row, and up an 
uninviting stairway, into a dingy attic, there to find his 
own son in poverty and filth, such as he had never seen 
before. As the eye of the dying son met the tear- 
dimmed gaze of his father, he said in a weak and trem- 
bling voice, " Father, I shall not recall the scenes of my 
past life, I want to ask you, before I go to my long 
home, to forgive me for the pain and dishonor I have 
brought on you." 

The father fell beside the dying son, and said, " Let 
the past be forgotten, I would have forgiven all, long, 
long ago, had you but asked it. I willingly forgive 
all, \ on must come home at once." 



226 CHRIST'S WILLIXGXESS TO SAVE. 

Oh ! Satan-deluded soul. The mighty arms of Jesus 
Christ stand outstretched to forgive your past life, and 
welcome you to the joys of his Father's abode. 

Why will }~ou longer live in the rags and filth of sin, 
when such a happy lot is yours. " The master is come, 
and calleth for thee."' Arise, and unload thy burden of 
guilt, and put on the robe of righteousness, that he so 
willingly gives to those that come to him. 

■• Whatsoever a man soweth, tit at shall he also reap." 

Gal. vi. 7. 

One night at the close of an earnest appeal to sinners 
by one of our Y. aL C. A. workers, an invitation was 
given to any who felt any anxiety as to their soul's 
welfare, to remain a moment after the audience was 
dismissed. 

Among the number that had remained, was a poor, 
uncouth woodman, who had long enjoyed the camp life 
in the great pineries of the north. 

As the man of God took him by the hand, he asked 
him how it was with his soul, and why he desired to 
" flee from the wrath to come "' ? He began by telling 
his past history, he said he had lived the most wicked 
life imaginable, that he had spent for liquor and carous- 
ing what should have been given to the support of a 
lovely family. That he had murdered the best of wives 
by his ill-treatment and neglect in providing the neces- 
saries of life. That he was in the habit of subjecting 
his wife to the most inhuman treatment, and '• Xow. shy' 
said he, " that wife lies cold in death. aTv once lovely 
children are gone, and I am reaping the fruits of my own 
sowing. I am an outcast, I am a most miserable wreck, 
and worse still, I am forever doomed to hell's torments." 

The Christian gentleman listened with interest to his 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 227 

story, and then pointed out the saving power of Christ, 
which the sin-sick sonl eagerly grasped, and he became 
an earnest Christian worker. 

Dear reader, I give this illustration to show you the 
glories of my Saviour in reaching down to the lowest 
depth of iniquity, and rescuing a penitent soul. 

It matters not how low you may have sunken in sin. 
His long arm can reach jou. It matters not how de- 
graded and deep in the slime of ungodliness you may 
have fallen, for just such, Christ came to seek and to 
save. Then, my friend, take new courage, and come 
with a true penitent heart, and his precious promises 
will be verified. " Come unto me, all ye that labor, and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." " Him that 
cometh, I will in nowise cast out." 

"How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the 
kingdom of God" — Mark x. 23. 

Among the legends of Hindostan is one that illustrates 
these words of our Saviour. 

One Rawana, a Brahmin, was offered by his god any- 
thing that he might name. Rawana prayed his god to 
bestow upon him the government of the world. His 
god immediately granted his wish. Then he prayed for 
ten heads, with ivhich to see and rule the world. After 
Rawana had well fortified himself, and was surrounded 
by riches, honors, and praise, he forgot his god, Ixora, 
and bade all the people worship him, — an act which 
greatly angered the god Ixora, and he destroyed Rawana. 

How true to human nature was the course of Rawana ! 
and how many we find to-day that have forgotten the 
God that gave them all they possess ! Right her^ come 
in the words of our Saviour : " How hard for them that 



228 CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 

trust in riches to enter the kingdom of heaven '" ; because 
the cares of this world spring up. and choke the seed of 
the Spirit. Beloved reader. I am going to ask you a 
plain, solemn question, and leave you to answer it in 
your own heart, before God. Have you any right to 
usurp the time that belongs to your soul, and apply it 
to something else ? This is what you are doing, while 
Christ awaits to give you an immortal inheritance in the 
blissful abode, which he has gone to prepare for you. 

"Naked, and ye clothed me." — Matt. xxv. 36. 

A soldier was placed on duty, one bitter cold night, 
between one sentry box and another. A poor working- 
man chanced to pass along, as he was walking his beat, 
and. moved with pity for the poor fellow, took off his 
coat, and gave it to the soldier to keep him warm, adding 
that he should very soon reach home, while the soldier 
would be exposed to the cold all night. The cold was so 
intense, the soldier was found frozen at his post. Some 
time after, the man lay on his deathbed, and. in a dream, 
he imagined he saw an angel appear to him " You have 
got my coat on,'' said the man. "Yes, this is the coat 
you lent me that cold, bitter night, when I was on duty, 
and you passed by. ' I was naked and ye clothed me.' " 

So Christ took off the cloak of his glory, and endured 
all manner of persecution, suffered shame, that he might 
clothe us with his cloak of righteousness, and win us 
back to God. Though he died in the attempt, yet he 
succeeded, and again took up his own glory. 

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the 
living God." — Heb. x. 31. 

"When I lived,"' says Borgia. "I prepared for every- 
thing but death. Xow. I must die. and am unprepared.'' 



CHRIST'S WILLIXGXESS TO SAVE. 220 

What a true picture of the life of millions of our fellow- 
men to-day ! Rushing along life's pathway, busy attend- 
ing everything for the present, finally there comes the 
summons, ''Come hither"; then, like Borgia, they will 
say, " I must die, and am unprepared." Then they will 
realize the force of this text. 

■• When this mortal life is fled, 
When the death shades o'er thee spread, 
When is finished thy career. 
Sinner, where wilt thou appear ? 

"While the Holy Ghost is nigh, 
Quickly to thy Saviour fly. 
Waiting, patiently, he receives. 
Every penitent that believes." 



" God is light and in him is no darkness at all." 

1 Jxo. i. 5. 

When Charles Kingsley was dying, he said, " It is not 
darkness I am going to, for God is light. It is not lonely, 
for Christ is with me. It is not like taking a journey to 
a strange country, for the guiding hand of Jesus my 
Saviour is outstretched to lead me." child of God! 
how comforting is the assurance Christ Jesus gives in 
this dark hour to those that trust him ! Oh, the grandeur 
in the thought that the loving hand of Jesus is out- 
stretched to bear our immortal souls to his Father's 
house, where joy " reigns unspeakable and full of glory ! " 
My friend, such scenes must come to each of us. I ask 
you, therefore, this one question, do you want Christ to 
support you in the hour of death, when all earthly aid 
will be powerless to help you ? Upon what will you 



230 CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 

then lean ? Give your heart an honest answer to this 
question, while your Saviour patiently Waits at the door 
of your heart to come in. Oh, grieve him not away ! 

" Mighty to save" — Isa. lxiii. 1. 

Two ministers were travelling through a thinly settled 
district, on their way to a public gathering of their 
church. As they came to a small clearing in the dense 
wood, they saw not far away a cabin on fire. They 
urged on their horses, and soon reached the house, to 
find the roof all ablaze. They quickly dismounted, and 
ran to the burning building. In one corner of the little 
room lay a poor old man, crippled and utterly helpless. 
He begged them for mercy's sake to save him from the 
awful death. They soon succeeded in arresting the 
flames, and assured him danger was past. The old man, 
with tearful eyes and trembling voice, thanked them for 
saving him. They told him to give the praise to God, 
who had brought them just at that time to rescue him. 

" Wonderful mercy ! " as his eyes dropped to the floor, 
and he confessed that he had never believed in a God. 
" Now I believe there is a God, and that he has sent you 
here to rescue me." He then inquired who the strangers 
were. On being told, he added, " how strange ! I never 
allowed a minister to cross my threshold, and now God 
has sent two of them to rescue such a worthless old 
cripple as I am from an awful death." He briefly recalled 
his past life, and said, "Now, I feel the guilt of my way- 
wardness." He then fell at the foot of the cross, and 
plead for mercy, and wondering how such a hardened 
sinner could be saved from the death he so richly 
deserved. 

Oh ! my unsaved friend, take courage, lay your case 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO &AV& 281 

before the adorable Lord, for he is "mighty to save," 
and " able to save to the uttermost all that come unto 
God by him." 

" Come with thy sins, confessing, 
Thou shalt receive a blessing." 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for- 
give us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness" — 1 Jxo. i. 9. 

During the trial of Joan of Arc, the judges and the 
priests privately besought her to confess that she had 
erred in defending her country and in aiding to crown 
Charles the Seventh as king. 

She promptly refused all their offers, tempting as they 
were. They offered her liberty, offered to make her a 
distinguished personage at the king's court, still she 
never relaxed in her persistent refusal. They well knew 
that a confession from her would forever dishonor the 
crown she had been the means of placing upon the head 
of Charles the Seventh. When she was led forth to the 
stake, and saw the great pile of fagots awaiting the 
torch, she was again urged to confess her error, which 
she refused to do. As the flames reached her body, they 
stood near her to hear any confession she might make ; 
but she died rather than accede to their demands. So it 
is with the sinner. Christ stands waiting to clothe him 
with his own righteousness upon a confession of faith in 
him, and bestow upon him his guiding care, shield him 
from the temptations of life, provide him grace to walk 
the narrow way, instil in his soul the assurance of immor- 
tal glory and a crown that fadeth not away. One says, 
" Time enough " ; another, " Wait awhile " ; another, " I 
am afraid I can't hold out " ; another, " Want of feel- 



232 Christ* s willixgxes^ to save. 

ing"; another, '-Do not feel as others do"; another. 
" Too many hypocrites " ; another. " I must prepare my- 
self; another, -Too great a sinner"; another. "Can't 
understand the new birth"; another, '-Do not know 
how " ; another, " Am not such a great sinner " : another, 
-Don't care to give up all yet": and another. -Cannot 
believe." 

My dear unsaved friend, these are hell's trusted bul- 
warks : they are the rocks upon which thousands of 
souls have been wrecked. They are Satan's most trusted 
weapons. You can overcome them all by humbly throw- 
ing yourself on Christ Jesus, and confessing your sins, 
confessing your inability to do anything : confessing that 
unless Christ rescues you. you are lost \ confessing that 
you are weary of your burden of sin. and that you desire 
him to relieve you ; confessing that you have formed a 
determination to serve him to the end. These are the 
paths to victory and an everlasting habitation with the 
redeemed of God in heaven. 

" Come with thy sins, confessing, 
Thou shalt receive a blessing." 



"He came unto his own and his own received him not." 

Jxo. i. 11. 

I had in my youth, a friend about my own age. He 
was the only son of his parents, and a boy of no ordi- 
nary promise. He was the idol of his parents' hearts. 
Of him they could talk by the hour. As the years rolled 
by, and he grew to manhood, he suddenly became a rav- 
ing maniac, and. it was found necessary to place him in 
an insane asylum, where he is to-day confined. His poor, 
sorrowing mother made frequent visits to the institution 
to see him. On one occasion, as the attendant unlocked 



CUKIST-S )VILLIXGXESS TO SAVE. 233 

the door of his apartment, he met the eye of his weep- 
ing mother, who had so long suffered and endured hard- 
ships for him. No sooner had he glared at her, when he 
cried out, " Take her away, take her away : she is a 
witch, come to torment me." The attendant tried to 
explain to the poor boy that it was his loving mother, 
the best friend he had on earth ; but he persisted, and 
refused to allow her to come in, and minister to him. 
The attendant locked the door, and led the heart-broken 
mother away. 

So it is with the sinner. Dear friend, you have a 
Saviour who suffered and died for you, who paid the 
price of your going astray, and redeemed you from ever- 
lasting doom, and who now seeks and claims you; but 
your actions cry out, louder than words, "Away with 
him ! away with him ! I will not have this man to rule 
over me." There will come a time, Christ says, that 
" when ye call, I will not hear." But to-day he invites 
you, and bids you " come" 

" Who his oicn self bare our sins in his own body on the 
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteous- 
ness" — 1 Pet. ii. 24. 

During a fierce war which raged in India between 
Tippoo Sahib, and the English, a number of the latter 
were captured, and thrown in prison. Among them was 
an officer named Baird, and who was then suffering from 
a severe wound. One day the natives brought in fetters 
to be put on each prisoner. An aged English officer 
turned to the guards, and asked them if they intended 
putting the irons on the wounded and suffering Baird. 

" There are just as many fetters as there are prisoners, 
and each pair must be worn," was the reply. " Then," 
said the aged officer, " put two pairs on me. I will wear 



234 CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 

his, as well as my own." His request was granted, and 
he wore the two pairs, while his wounded friend soon 
recovered, and gained his liberty. But the generous 
brother officer was cast into a dungeon, where he soon 
died. 

So the blessed Christ took on himself the fetters of 
our sins, and bore them in his own body on the cross 
that we might recover, and gain our liberty, and be re- 
deemed to God by his blood, and made us sons of God 
and heirs of the kingdom which he hath prepared for 
those that love him. 

And now he bids us come and partake of this redemp- 
tion, and find rest unto our souls. 



"The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." 

Isa. liii. 6. 

" One day a minister had occasion to move his library 
to a room upstairs ; his little son came into the room, and 
the father requested him to aid in the transfer of books. 
Presently, he met his little boy about half way up the 
stairs with the largest book in the library. He could go 
no farther ; the book was too heavy for him. and he sat 
down on the stair, and began to cry as if his heart would 
break. The father placed his arm about him, and carried 
him. book, and all. up the stairs.'' — Moody. 

Beloved is thy burden too heavy ? do troubles and 
cares weigh hard upon thy heart ? 

Your heavenly Father bids you lay all upon his strong 
arm. Jesus Christ says, " Come unto me," I will relieve 
you, and give you rest. " Cast thy care upon him, for he 
careth for you." Is this not easier than to mourn over 
your case ? Just come as you are, and Jesus will help 
you. 



CBRIST'8 WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 235 

" Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely " 

Rev. xxii. 17. 

Travellers in the East tell us that certain seasons in 
the year, carriers may be seen going along the streets of 
the villages with water to sell, and crying out, " Who'll 
buy. who'll buy the gift of God."' 

Jesus Christ comes to every heart, and says, " i" will 
give you the water of life, whosoever will let him par- 
take freely ; he that drinketh of the water that I shall 
give shall never thirst.'' Kind friend have you accepted 
the great invitation ? 

" Oh precious is the flow 
That makes us white as snow, 
No other fount I know, 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.' , 

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you : not 
as the world giveth. give I unto you. 73 — Jxo. xiv. 27. 

A physician was summoned to the bedside of a dying 
man. 

As he noticed the sweet composure and loving faith, 
— such as only a firm trust in Christ can give — of the 
dying man, he said, " Oh ! if I only had that sweet trust 
and assurance, how happy I would be." The scene led 
him to meditation, and he gave to Christ his heart. 

Xot long after, the messenger of death came to him. 
With an unwavering faith he welcomed the call, and 
passed beyond to an inheritance incorruptible, and full 
of glory. 

Oh ! troubled soul, do the realities of the future 
haunt thee ? doth thy inability to escape the judgments 
of a just God weigh down thy heart ? do the evil fore- 
bodings of death make thy life unhappy ? 



230 CUBIST'S WILLINGXESS TO SAVE. 

Take courage, there is a remedy for such ills, Jesus 
Christ is waiting to heal such maladies. Come just as 
you are, and tell him you are so weary, and his great 
hands will gently unload your burden, and take it unto 
his own self. 

He came to seek and to save just such as you. and 
the sweet peace which he gives, this world knoweth not. 

The assurance he bestoAvs not only cheers and strength- 
ens you in this life, but as you pass through the valley 
of the shadow of death, and when all earthly help is gone, 
he gently takes you by the hand, and leads you to an 
eternal inheritance prepared for those that love him. 

To believe, repent, receive, is your part : to cleanse, 
purify, guide, bless, love, and save, is Christ's part. 

"He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come 
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 
for them:' — Heb. vii. 25. 

The story goes that Mr. William Dawson of London, 
at the close of one of his earnest appeals to sinners to 
accept Christ, said "there was not a man, woman, or 
child in all London that Christ could not save." 

The next day as he sat in his study, the sharp ringing 
of the door-bell interrupted him ; the servant opened the 
door, and a neatly dressed young lady asked to see Mr. 
Dawson. She was shown into his study, and said, " In 
your sermon yesterday you said that there was not a man, 
woman, or child in all London that Christ could not 
save." Mr. Dawson replied, " I admit I did say so, and 
moreover. I will say further that you may apply the 
assertion to the whole world." 

The young lady continued, " I have been talking with 
a poor, miserable dying man to-day, and told him what 



CHRIST'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE. 237 

you said ; but lie declares Christ cannot save such a wreck 
as he. I did all I could, and feel sure if you will go to 
see the poor man, you can so present Christ that he will 
accept him, and yet be saved." Mr. Dawson readily con- 
sented to visit the sick man. On a narrow street up a 
rickety stairway they found, upon a bed of straw, a 
wasted form, showing a life of dissipation. The godly 
man bent over him, and said, " Friend." The sick man 
quickly looked up into his face, and said, " Sir, you must 
be mistaken, I have no friends. My own family cast me 
off. I am a wretched, poor outcast, friendless and dy- 
ing." — "Yet, sir," replied Mr. Dawson, "you have a 
friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Christ is the 
sinner's friend." At first the words had very little effect, 
but ere long the peace of God dawned upon the dying 
man, and he eagerly grasped the great and precious 
promises that were read to him. His face brightened, 
and amid all the misery and filth of his surroundings he 
crossed his hands in death, trusting in Jesus. Oh ! un- 
fortunate friend, the same loving arms that rescued this 
poor man from the very brink of hell is ready and will- 
ing to lift you out of the mire and filth that sin has 
brought upon you, and set your feet upon solid ground. 
He is able to the uttermost to save you ; regardless of 
the depth of your degradation his arm can reach you, and 
bring you back to eternal life. Come then, 

" Just as you are without one plea, 
But that his blood was shed for thee." 



CHAPTER XVI. 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SAL- 
VATION. 



•'COME UNTO ME, ALL YE. — MATT. xi. 28. 

"HE THAT COMETH I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." 

JNO. vi. 37. 



239 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO 
SALVATION. 



" Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and 
he that hath no money ; come ye, buy and eat : yea, come, 
buy icine and milk without money and without price" 

Isa. lv. 1. 

One cold day, a poor, ill-clad woman halted before the 
window of a king's conservatory, looking at a cluster of 
grapes, which she longed to have for her little daughter, 
who was ill. 

She went home, and by extra exertion earned a florin, 
and came and offered it for the cluster of grapes. The 
gardener ordered her off the premises. 

She returned home, took the blanket from her bed, 
and pawned it, and went and asked the gardener to sell 
her the grapes, offering him five shillings. He became 
furious, and bade her leave the place at ouce. The 
princess heard the rough language, and asked what was 
wrong. When the story was told her she said, "My 
dear woman, you are mistaken in the place. My father 
is not a merchant, but a king. His business is not to 
sell, but to give." So saying, she plucked the cluster of 
grapes, and dropped them into the woman's apron, and 
she went away happy. 

So Christ came, not to sell and make merchandise of 
the joys of heaven, but to give us a passport to its eter- 
nal bliss. He came to "give life and to give it more 

241 



242 CHRIST INVITES ALL HEX TO SALVATION. 

abundantly." And lie bids you, dear reader, to " come and 
buy without price, and lie that hath no money to come 
and buy, " Ho every one that thirsteth. come.*' Oh, what 
a benevolent God to give free that which cost him so 
much. Keader. will you come ? 



" He is also able to save them to the uttermost that come 
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 
for them" — Heb. vii. 25. 

A Christian gentleman was one bright Sabbath morn- 
ing invited to hold religious services in a prison. He 
earnestly pictured the scene on Calvary to the army of 
unfortunates. After the services, he was granted permis- 
sion to pass along the corridors and speak with the men 
in their cells. Some he found reclining on their beds 
reading, some playing cards, some writing letters. For 
each he had a cheerful word ; when he came to the last 
row. he halted in front of the cell of a poor convict who 
sat with his face buried in his hands, a true picture of 
despair. He spoke gently to him, and asked what his 
trouble was ; the man told him that he was the most 
miserable of men, the memory of the crimes of his long 
life of iniquity came up and haunted him by day, while 
the gaping jaws of hell made the quiet hours of night 
unbearable. The gentleman spoke words of comfort, and 
told him that he knew an effective remedy for such ills, 
and pointed him to the blessed Saviour. "My dear 
sir," said the man, " do you for one moment suppose 
such a man as I could find pardon there ? " The gen- 
tleman read the broad invitations of Christ to the poor 
man. " Can that include me ? " asked the convict. The 
godly man assured him it did, when the troubled soul 
cried out, " Oh, show me how to find him." They knelt 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 24-°> 

down, and the convict reached his hand through the iron 
bars and grasped the Christian as he prayed for the 
spirit to light up the despairing man's heart. The 
gracious light did come, and illuminated the dark recess 
of his heart, until his eyes and countenance told that he 
was enjoying peace through the cross of Christ. 

" Able to save to the uttermost," that includes me ; 
that includes you, dear reader ; it matters not how sin- 
ful, it includes you, but to avail ourselves of its reality 
we must come, show a desire, believe, and be saved. 



"And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his 
hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will: be 
thou clean" — Mark i. 41. 

A Chinese convert relates the following : " A man had 
fallen into a deep, dark pit, and lay in its miry bottom, 
groaning, and unable to move. Confucius walked by ; 
nearing the edge of the pit, he said to the poor, unfortu- 
nate man, ' Poor fellow, I am exceedingly sorry for you. 
Why were you such a fool as to get into this awful 
place ? Now, take the advice of a friend, and when you 
get out, don't go near such a place again.' Xext came a 
Buddhist priest, and said, * Poor fellow, indeed I am 
sorry for you. I think if you could scramble up part of 
the way, I could help you out.' But the man could do 
nothing to help himself. Xext, came the adorable 
Jesus, and, hearing loud cries, went to the pit, stretched 
down his long arm, and rescued the prisoner, saying, 
' Go, and sin no more.' " Such is the love and compas- 
sion of the beloved Son of God, and for such a cause 
came he into the world, to rescue those that were deep 
sunken into the pit of sin and iniquity, and it matters 
not how deep the pit may be, he is able, and his great 



24:4: CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

arm is long enough to reach to the bottom. All the 
sinner has to do is to ask to be raised, and Jesus is 
moved with compassion, and lifts him up, and sets his 
feet on the solid rock, and cleanses him from all sin. 
Could you, dear reader, could I, could lost humanity ask 



" Whosoever will, let him take the irate, • of life freely." 

Rev. xxii. 17. 

In Oriental countries, during the dry season, it is 
looked upon as a grateful act of kindness to give to a 
thirsty traveller one cup of water. In Christ we have a 
fount as free as it is boundless, and as boundless as 
eternity. A fount that sends forth the water of life unto 
life everlasting. A fount that sends forth living water, 
and whosoever drinketh thereof shall never thirst. A 
fount which flows for all mankind, and ichosoecer will let 
him take of the water freely. A fount where the soul 
laden with iniquity may wash and be made whiter than 
snow. A fount where the penitent may drink, and go 
his way rejoicing in free pardon and full salvation. A 
fount where the hungering and thirsting after righteous- 
ness may be filled. A fount where the weak may drink, 
and be made strong in the Lord, and in the power of his 
might. A fount where the tempted and tried may drink 
and rind strength to resist the evil one. A fount where 
the servant of the Most High God may find strength to 
labor in the heat of the day. A fount where the suffer- 
ing and the bereaved may find consolation, because " he 
was tempted in all points as we are," and because " he 
was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.'' A 
fount where the aged may drink, and the hoary locks 
will be transformed into the bloom of youth, and in an 



run isr ix) hl's all hex to salvation. 245 

eternity never grow old. A fount that gives joy, peace, 
and glory in a world of endless bliss. 

Such, my dear reader, is the fount of living water, 
even Jesus Christ. Have you been made a partaker 
thereof? You alone must decide whether or not you will 
come and take this water. 



"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for- 
give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness" — 1 Jxo. i. 9. 

A minister was holding services in a little English 
town. Among his congregation was a miserable-looking 
ragged man, whose very appearance showed him to be a 
profligate and prodigal. The minister went to him at 
the.close of service, and heard his story, and found his bad 
habits had caused him to be driven from a good home, 
and loving parents. He advised him to write at once, 
and tell them of his determination to reform, and win 
back the esteem of all his friends. 

" Oh, no, sir ! " said the poor fellow, " I have led such 
a life, they would shut the door against me ; I cannot 
hope to gain their forgiveness.'' — " You certainly do not 
know the love of parents. I am sure they will take you 
back," said the minister. The young man wrote the 
letter, and very soon he came to the minister with the 
reply full of love and tender words from his father, and 
urging the son to come without delay. 

Even so, unsaved friend, Christ sends you the in- 
vitation to come to him. Come, in all your sin and 
pollution ; — come, however black your heart may be ; — 
come, with all the guilt of your past life ; — come, in 
all your rags and filthiness of a life of crime ; — come. 
just as you are, without one plea ; — " come, all ye that 



246 CHRIST INVITES ALL MSN TO SALVATION. 

labor, and are heavy laden " with sin ; — come, confess- 
ing your sins to him who is •• faithful and just to for- 
give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness " ; — come, though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be white as snow ; — come, for the sake of him 
who died on Calvary's cross, and poured out his life for 
you : — come, for your soul ? s eternal sake, and secure a 
part in that inheritance prepared for those that love 
God. 

•• Silver and gold have I none : but such as I have, give 
I thee:' — Acts iii. 6. 

Socrates once had a trusted servant, who, seeing others 
giving presents to his master, came to him one day, and 
said, " Because I have nothing else to give thee, master, 
I here give thee myself." Socrates saw the earnestness 
of the servant, and said. "Do so." After bestowing upon 
him gifts, and advancing him to the head of his servants, 
he called him one day. and said. a I now give thee back 
to thyself better than when I received thee." 

Just such a spirit as this is what Christ requires of 
us : and when we come to him with such a trusting love, 
he takes us out of our sins, and through his own blood 
cleanseth us, and maketh us heirs of the kingdom of God. 
Dear unsaved friends, though you may be poor, wretched, 
and miserable, it matters not what or who you are, 
Jesus bids you come. And when you come, he will 
make you " free indeed." Come as you are ; — come, say- 
ing " Just as I am." and he will in nowise cast you out. 



"I will arise and go to my father." — Luke xv. 18. 

There lived in one of the Xew England States a well- 
to-do merchant, with an interesting and happy family. 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 247 

The merchant's home was known far and wide as the 
happiest in the town. Suddenly, reverses in business 
came to him. As he saw his once-prosperous business 
gone, his health failed, disease settled in his system, and 
death laid his cold hand upon him. Unscrupulous credi- 
tors came and took the home, leaving the heart-broken 
widow without any means of support, save the efforts of 
a fifteen-year-old son. 

They struggled along for some time, until the son, led 
away by reading stories of dime novel adventures, left 
his mother to seek his fortune in a distant state. After 
he had been gone some years, during which no tidings of 
the lost boy came to cheer the widowed heart, though let- 
ters were sent to many places in the hopes that they might 
reach him, only to be returned to the writer as unclaimed, 
— one day, as the poor mother sat alone, a sharp knock 
was heard at the door, the now aged parent responded, 
to find before her a gentleman with long, flowing beard. 
She at first failed to recognize him ; presently she saw 
great tears trickling down his cheeks, and she exclaimed, 
•• My lost boy ! my long-loved, lost son ! " The happy 
mother entreated her son to come into the house, but he 
declined. "No mother/' said he, "I can never cross 
that threshold until you forgive me for what I have 
done in treating you so shamefully, and causing you so 
much pain." The mother threw her arms about him, and 
forgave all. 

My friend, the adorable Christ stands at your heart's 
door, knocking for admission, and with outstretched arms 
he is saying, " Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Knock, and it 
shall be opened unto you; seek, and ye shall find." He 
is willing to forgive your past treatment of him, and 
remember it no more against you forever. 



248 CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

"For thou icast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by 
thy blood" — Rev. v. 9. 

A very ancient Assyrian legend, found among the 
writings of Berosus, gives the account of man's creation 
in this wise, " Bel, one of the three great gods, gave his 
blood to be mixed with the clay out of which man was 
formed, thereby endowing him with reason, and instilling 
into his soul the essence of divine nature." 

The effect of this legend upon the hearts of those 
dark ages we are not told ; but it very forcibly illustrates 
the scene of Calvary, when the blood of the blessed 
Christ, mixed with the agony of that hour, opened up 
the way of eternal life to a fallen world, and endowed 
them with the peace of soul that "passeth all under- 
standing," and posted sentinels the world over to cry, 
'• Whosoever will may come, I am the way, the truth, 
the life." Reader, have you been washed in the blood 
of him who was slain, and has redeemed you to God by 
his blood ? 

" God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life." — Jxo. iii. 16. 

An aged man, noted for his wickedness, was taken 
violently ill, and for many days suffered intense agony 
of body and soul. He yearned for that sweet peace 
found in believing in Christ. He longed to know the 
assurance of heaven's eternal bliss. One day he called 
his little son to his bedside, and said, " Johnny, can you 
read to me ? " The little boy readily assented, promising 
to skip the hard words. He took down the Bible, and it 
opened at John, third chapter, and Johnny read as best 
he could, until he came to the sixteenth verse : " God so 



( HI! IS T I.WI TES ALL MEN TO SA L VA TION. 249 

loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that " 

— here he halted ; he spelt and respelt the word, and 
could not make it out. so he said, "111 just skip that, and 
go on." So he began at the first, and read, " God so loved 
the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that . . . 
believeth should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
The lather looked at the lad eagerly, and said, " I do so 
much wish you could make out that word : it is just what 
1 want to know, and what I need." So eager was he to 
know, that he arose from his bed, and called to a gentle- 
man passing the street, and asked him to tell him what 
it was. 

The man took the book, and said, " That is whosoever" 

— " Whosoever, why, what does it mean ? " said the sick 
man. "It means anybody" said the man, as he turned 
and. walked away. 

The old man at once saw that he was included in the 
u whosoever," and laid hold on the Saviour, and rejoiced 
in saving faith. 

That very word includes you, my reader, whoever you 
are ; you have a share in that wonderful love. Christ 
sends it to you, and bids you to come and drink of the 
water of life, freely. Rest assured, if you come, he will 
not cast you out. 



" Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" 

Kev. xxii. 17. 

A few years ago a benevolent gentleman gave a New 
Year dinner to the poor people of the city, and pub- 
lished an invitation that all who wanted to, could come 
and partake of the meal, free of charge. 

The poor, the lame, the halt, the blind, nocked to the 
feast in great numbers, and enjoyed the bountiful repast 



250 CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

set before them, and were loud in their praises of the 
donor for his remembrance of their class. 

The blessed Son of God has prepared for us, dear 
friend, a feast, and sent heralds throughout the earth, 
proclaiming the invitation, " Whosoever will, let him 
come." There is room enough for all. " Come without 
money, and buy ; — come and partake of the water of 
life freely." 

Oh, how our hearts should send forth the grateful 
praise for a free salvation ! 

" In returning and rest shall ye he saved." 

Isa. XXX. 15. 

During the reign of one of the European kings a cer- 
tain class of his subjects formed a society whose main 
object was to rebel against certain restrictions laid upon 
them by their king. 

The king, not caring to put them to death, issued an 
edict, informing them that if they would return unto 
him, and show that they sought to live under his flag, 
that he would forgive their spirit of rebellion and pro- 
tect them. Some of the rebels came back to their king, 
and he forgave all ; while others would not, and fell by 
the sword of the king's arm}'. 

My dear, unsaved readers, you are living in open rebel- 
lion against the King of Heaven. You know not " what 
a day may bring forth." To-morrow }~ou may be called 
to stand before the King. In the still hours of night, 
the dread messenger may call for you. To-day, I bring 
unto you this edict from the King of Heaven : " Eeturn 
unto me, and I will return unto you. He that cometh, I 
will in no wise cast out. Come unto me, all ye that labor 
and are heavy laden." " In returning and rest shall ye 
be saved." 



CHRIST Iff I I TES ALL MEX TO & 1 L VA TION. 251 

"He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." 

Jxo. vi. 47. 

There is a little incident in the life of Napoleon which 
gives us a beautiful illustration. 

It is said that he rode out one day to view his army. 
His prancing steed became frightened, and ran aAvay. 
As he passed swiftly down the line a soldier, at great risk 
of his own life, sprung in front of the flying steed, and 
grasped the rein, checking him. When the great general 
saw the bravery, he took off his hat, and said, "From 
this time on, I make you captain of my guards." 

The captain ordered the man to again take his place in 
the ranks, but he refused. 

" And why not ? " asked the captain. " Because I am 
captain of the guards," he replied. " The great Napoleon 
has- thus appointed me." 

The captain believed that such was the case, and 
pressed his orders no further. 

My friend. Christ says, " Come and you shall be saved." 
Can you not take him at his word ? 

" The poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of 
Israel." — Isa. xxix. 19. 

A Christian physician, in order to make his services 
more useful in relieving the ills of mankind, established 
himself in one of our large cities. He ordered a sign 
painted, giving the hours that he could be found at his 
office. In large letters at the bottom were these words, 
" The poor treated free of charge." He soon had a large 
practice, and won the confidence of both rich and poor. 
Xot only did he prescribe for the ills of the body, but 
he also told of another Physician who could cure the ills 
of the soul. In the midst of his career of usefulness 



252 CHRIST IXVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

death sought him out. and laid his cold hand upon him. 
Many were the sad hearts as they gathered around theii 
benefactor's coffin to take a last look at the lifeless form. 
As the long procession of mourners followed the remains 
to the grave, hot tears trickled down many a furrowed 
cheek, as the thought of their irreparable loss came to 
them. 

O my poor friends, poverty may come to us. property 
may take wings and fly away, friends may forsake us. 
loved ones may be called to yonder shore, the future 
may seem dark, our pathway may be studded with dark 
clouds. — yet. amid all these, we have a friend that " stick- 
eth closer than a brother."' Jesus Christ still sends you 
this message. " Come unto me. all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He is the friend 
of the poor. He knows how to sympathize with us. for 
himself " had not where to lay his head." He himself 
was tempted like as we are. He knew want and sorrow. 
He is thoroughly acquainted with our hearts, and sym- 
pathizes with us. He is always ready to stretch forth 
his mighty arm. and bear our burden for us. 

Therefore. •* Cast thy care upon him, for he careth for 
you." 

" Come : for all things are now read)/." 

Luke xiv. 17. 

It was the custom in the earlier ages to issue invita- 
tions to a feast several weeks before the event, and when 
the day arrived, and all preparations were completed, a 
runner was sent out to inform those bidden, that all the 
details were arranged, and the master says '-Come." 

So the blessed Christ came, announcing the kingdom 
of heaven as at hand, and when the last pang upon the 
cross went out. he said ; •'• It is finished.'' "Let every 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 253 

one that thirstetli come." " All things are now ready." 
The avenues of eternal salvation are opened, an offended 
God is reconciled, all arrangements are now complete. 
Come." 

This invitation is personal to yon, kind friend. Will 
you take it, and come to Jesus ? 

" Return unto m<>, and I will return unto you.''' 

Mal. iii. 7. 

I remember a few years ago of reading the story of a 
prominent business man in one of our large cities who 
had a lovely daughter, highly educated, refined, and 
beautiful. — the pride of the father's heart. For some 
time the young lady had been secretly meeting a young 
man that she well knew her father would not permit to 
cross his threshold. These secret meetings terminated 
one day in the elopement and marriage of the young lady 
to her lover, who was far below her in rank and social 
standing. The father was heart broken to think his 
accomplished daughter would thus throw herself away. 
He sought the aid of detectives to find her whereabouts. 
Weeks and months passed without finding any trace of 
her. One day the detective walked into his office, and 
informed him that the lost one was found. The father 
was overcome with joy. He sent for his son, and told 
him to go to the place, and tell his daughter to return 
home, and all would be forgiven. The son went, and in- 
duced her to come back to her father who was waiting with 
outstretched arms to meet her and welcome her home. 

Reader, are you unsaved ? The blessed son of God 
says, " Came to me. The past will be forever blotted 
out ; no difference how black the record may be, it will 
be wiped away, and a hearty welcome sung by the holy 
angels in the presence of God." 



254 CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

He sends you this invitation: "Return unto me, and 
I will return unto you, with open arms, and will receive 
you, and care for you, protect you, and save you." 

" By grace are ye saved, through faith ; and that not of 
yourselves ; it is the gift of God." — Eph. ii. 8. 

A very ignorant man who had long been noted for his 
great wickedness and opposition to the cause of Christ, 
sent a request to a minister to call on him. The godly 
man was surprised when the man requested the privilege 
of coming to the house of God, and publicly confessing 
Christ. His request was granted, and among the ques- 
tions asked him was this : " Can you explain the work 
of salvation and the way you came to Christ ? " — Oh ! 
yes," he replied, " I did a part, and Christ did a part." — 
" What part did you do ? " was asked. — "I opposed him 
all I could, and Christ did the rest." Oh what activity 
the powers of hell show when a soul decides to shake 
off the shackles and turn to God ; but what an inspiring 
thought to know that "He that is for us is greater than 
he that is against us." 

Take courage then, oh reader, and come as you are 
to a full and free salvation, by grace, through faith in 
Christ. 

"As many as received him, to them gave he power to 
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his 
?ia?ne." — Jno. i. 12. 

A gentleman residing in the fashionable part of Lon- 
don, and thoroughly carried away with the follies of 
society life, was walking down the street one day with a 
Christian lady. He asked her this question : " How is 
it that you religious people are always trying to rob us 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 255 

of our pleasure ? I enjoy life, and I can't see why you 
should be forever trying to rob me of what pleasure this 
short life affords." — "You are greatly mistaken, sir," 
replied the lady. • We do not want you to give up any- 
thing, but to receive" The gentleman kept thinking of 
the word receive. The word refused to leave him. Not 
long after he called on the lady, and told lier his life was 
miserable, and inquired what to do to receive that which 
would render him peace of soul, and joy of heart. She 
led him to the Saviour, and he found pardon and comfort 
in his blessed invitations and promises. Oh what a 
strong emphasis Satan puts on this very point, that of 
giving up our earthly joy and worldly pleasure. Dear 
reader, is such an excuse keeping you away from Christ ? 
Let me say to you that Christ stands ready to bestow 
upon your immortal soul, life eternal, and all you will be 
required to do is to receive. 

Then, too, let me say that when you do receive the 
sweetness of Christ's love in your heart it will cut away 
the desire of worldliness, and you will a thousand times 
feel like praising him for opening your eyes, and rescu- 
ing you from the power of Satan, and drawing you unto 
God. 

"Him that cometh to ?7ie i I will in no wise cast out." 

Jno. vi. 37. 

A minister was invited one day to dine with a gentle- 
man, who had a lovely daughter just blooming into 
womanhood. 

After dinner the minister and young lady were alone 
in the parlor. They conversed about the topics of the 
day, and after a while the subject of religion was intro- 
duced. The minister asked her if she had no serious 



250 CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

thoughts about the welfare of her soul. She replied that 
that was a matter of which she preferred not to speak, 
and entirely her own private affair. The godly man, in 
a moment, saw that his words had given offence, and 
quickly turned the subject of conversation. That 
night, as she lay on her couch, her thoughts ran back to 
the events of the day, and she began to meditate upon 
the words of the minister. The more she thought, the 
more serious became her case, until finally the Spirit 
drew aside the veil and showed her, her own heart ; 
alarmed at such a sight, she shrank back and looked 
about for means of escape. The next day she laid her 
troubles before the minister, who gave her words of 
comfort, and told her to lay the burden of her heart on 
Jesus. " But how can such a sinner as I come to 
Christ ? " she replied. She was told to come just as she 
was, and Christ would receive her. The peace that 
passeth all understanding flowed like a river into her 
soul, and she went rejoicing with exceeding joy. This 
was none other than Charlotte Elliott, whose name has 
become famous, and who has left us a witness of her 
change of heart in this beautiful hymn, which she com- 
posed on the day of her conversion, — 

" Just as I am, without one plea, 
But that thy blood was shed for me, 
And that thou bidd'st me come to thee ; 
Oh, Lamb of God, I come." 

Dear unsaved friend, there is hope for you yet. Why 
wait to grow better ? " Come, just as you are, without one 
plea," and cast yourself on the merits of Jesus Christ, 
who is " able to save to the uttermost," and who says, 
" I will not cast out any that come." 



cm; 1ST IXVITES ALL hex to 8ALV 

" Mliosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. 
Bat ichosoever drinketh of the cater that I shall give him 
shall never thirst : but the icater that I shall give him shall 
he in him a well of water springing up into everlasting 
lifer — J so. iv. 13, 14. 

•• In the hill country of India is a very touching myth 
;il out a queen, greatly beloved by her people, and whose 
lite was devoted to their interests. In olden times, the 
people of Chambra suffered grievous distress for want of 
water. The queen, taking the sorrows of her subjects 
greatly to heart, consulted the will of the gods, how the 
constant curse of drought might be removed. The reply 
was, ' If the ruler of Chambra die for her people, abun- 
dant water will be given.' ' Here am I,' said the gener- 
ous" queen. Bravely standing on the lofty position 
designated by the gods, the devoted queen was buried 
alive for the sake of her people. Thereupon, a fountain 
or* pure cold water flowed from the spot, descending to 
quench the thirst of the people of Chambra. visiting 
each hut. and bearing to each the life-giving blessing." 

While the above is only a myth, it bears a striking 
resemblance to the story of the King who left his 
heavenly throne and descended to earth to remove the 
curse of sin from a fallen race, and to open up a fountain 
of eternal life, and he that partaketh thereof shall never 
thirst. So great was this love he bore for his people 
that he laid down his life, amid shame and sorrow, that 
those whom he loved might be relieved of the terrible 
curse of everlasting condemnation, and won back to 
God and life eternal. Gentle reader, this same king 
extends to you a pressing invitation to come and take of 
the " water of life freely,'' and " he that drinketh of this 
water shall never thirst.'" " Ho, every one. cower The 



258 CHBIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 

rich, the poor, the lame, the blind, the halt, the sick, — yea, 
every one. " He that cometh, I will in no wise cast out." 
There is an eternal unchanging fount open, wherein 
sinners may plunge and lose all their guilty stains. Will 
yon, reader, take Christ at his word, and come now and 
lose all your guilt, and lay the foundation of an 
everlasting inheritance in the home above ? You must 
decide this yourself. 



•• Who his own self bare our si?is in his own body on 
the tree, that ire, being dead to sins, should live unto right- 
eousness.^ — 1 Pet. ii. '1\. 

The following old and touching illustration is probably 
familiar to us all. yet for the illustration, it will never 
wear threadbare. A stranger was seen one day planting 
a flower over a grave in the cemetery at Nashville, Tenn. 
A gentleman passing by asked him, " Is your son buried 
there?'' "No." "A brother?'-' "No." "A rela- 
tive?" u Xo." After a moment's pause, the stranger 
said. " I will tell you. When the war broke out, I lived 
in Illinois. I had a large family dependent upon my 
daily labor for support. I was drafted. Having no 
means to pay for a substitute, I prepared to go to the 
war. In the neighborhood was a young man who had 
heard of my circumstances. On the day I was to start. 
he came to me and said. ' You have a large family to 
care for ; I will go in your place.' He did go, was 
killed, and here in this grave rest his remains." On a 
board at the head of the grave were written these words, 
i; He died for me." The stranger, with tears of grati- 
tude trickling down his cheeks, told of his long journey 
to see this grave, and delighted to recall the fact that 
" He died for me." 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 259 

My friend, the beloved son of God bore your sins on 
Calvary's cross to give you life. He suffered in }-our 
stead, and in mine. He relieved you from the awful con- 
sequences of an eternal lost and ruined state, and set 
before you a plain road to everlasting life. Prompted 
by a boundless love, he took on himself your shame and 
disobedience, and purchased, at the cost of his own life, 
the eternal redemption of your soul. He now says, 
" Come unto me and be saved." Will you heed his 
call? 

"If the son therefore shall make yon free, ye shall be 
free indeed.''' — Jxo. viii. 36. 

It is told of Mr. Amos Lawrence, the millionaire, that 
he purchased all the forged paper of a certain forger. 
In order to influence the man for good, he offered him the 
paper on the condition that he confess himself bankrupt, 
and put all his affairs into the hands of his benefactor, 
an offer of which he gladly availed himself, and was 
allowed to go free. My unsaved friend, this is exactly 
what Jesus Christ has done for you, he bids you come 
to him in your bankrupt, sinful state, and confess your 
inability to pay the debt charged against you, and he 
will pay all, and allow you to walk free through all 
eternity. Will you open the door of your heart, and 
allow him to enter ? " Bear in mind, between you and 
God is a vast gulf ; Christ says to you he will bridge 
that over, and reconcile an offended God. 

Come believing, come trusting. 

" But that ye may know that the Son of Mom hath power 
on earth to forgive sins'' — Matt. ix. 6. 

There appeared in print not long since a beautiful 
legend, which ran somewhat as follows : There once 



260 CHBIST INVITES ALL HEX TO SALVATION. 

stood in an old baronial castle a musical instrument 
upon which nobody could play, owing to its complicated 
mechanism, and during years of disuse, the dust had 
gathered and clogged it, while dampness and variations 
of temperature had robbed the strings of their harmony. 
Various experts had tried to repair it, but without suc- 
cess, and when the hand of a player swept over the 
chords, it awoke only harsh discords and unlovely sounds. 
But there came one day to the castle a man of another 
sort. He was the maker of the instrument, and saw at 
a glance what was lacking. 

With skill he cleared the dust from the chords, and 
brought each string into place, and then it filled the 
hall with the most exquisite strains of music. 

So with our souls, human efforts may be employed to 
bring them into harmony, but not until God, the Maker, 
repairs and adjusts them can they ever be brought into 
harmony of praise and adoration to their Maker. Why 
be discouraged oh, cast-down soul, Christ is waiting to 
bring our souls into direct harmony with God. 

Patiently he stands, calling, entreating, and pleading, 
" Come unto me, come unto me, I will give rest unto 
your soul." 

" Come unto me. all ye that labor and ore heavy laden. 
and I will give you rest." — Matt. xi. 28. 

Two small boys were on their way to school one morn- 
ing, and met an old woman bearing a very heavy load. 

The lads insisted that she let them relieve her, and 
took the great basket, and bore it for her. 

So to you, friend, Christ comes upon the highway 
of destruction, and insists that you let him bear your 
burden for you. and allow you to go free." "Come unto 
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and /will 



CHRIST INVITES ALL MEN TO SALVATION. 261 

give you rest." " He that cometh, I will in nowise cast 
out." For just such as you. these promises go out ; — for 
just such as you. these promises were made ; — for just 
such as you. Christ came to " seek and to save." May the 
cry go to heaven to-day from your lips, " Oh, Lamb of 
God. I come, I come ! " 

" Come unto me. all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you vest." — Matt. xi. 28. 

In a church in the Isle of "Wight stands a monument 
whose history beautifully illustrates the comfort of 
having accepted the great invitation in this text. Prin- 
cess Elizabeth, daughter of Charles the First, during the 
wars of the Commonwealth, languished in the Castle of 
Carisbrook, separated from her loved ones, and every- 
thing on earth that she held as dear to her. One morn- 
ing her attendant went to her apartment, and found 
her with her head resting upon the open Bible, her 
marble-white finger pointing to these words, " Come unto 
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give 
you rest." The weary soul had taken its flight, resting 
on the promises of its Lord. The tired heart, worn 
and harassed with persecutions, had found comfort in 
the promises of its compassionate Saviour. The longing 
spirit hailed with gladness the summons to "Come up 
higher," and as it took its flight, carried with it the 
promises of its Maker, and made them the password 
through the heavenly portals. 

Reader, this same broad invitation is for you, this 
same support in the trials and cares of life is within 
your easy grasp ; this same peace and joy in that trjdng 
hour of death is yours, for the asking. 

Will you come, sa}dng, " Lord Jesus, my Saviour, I 
come, I come," '-help thou mine unbelief." 



CHAPTER XVII. 



ONLY BELIEVE. 



HE THAT BELIEVETH OX THE SOX HATH EYERLASTIXG 
LIFE." 

John iii. 36. 



263 



ONLY BELIEVE. 



"How that Christ died for our sins." — 1 Cor. xv. 3. 

During the late war, a company of men were arrested, 
tried, and convicted of desertion, and sentenced to be 
shot. Among the number was a man who had loved ones 
at home, and from whom he had received a letter, stating 
that they were sorely afflicted, and urging him to come 
at once. The poor fellow, failing in his application 
for a permit to visit them, deserted the army, and 
decicled, at the great risk of his life, to go to his family. 
The strict military rules would not excuse him on such a 
defence, and he was, with the other deserters, marched 
out to be shot. As he took his place in line, a young 
man, knowing the circumstance, stepped forward, and 
offered to take his place, and die in his stead. Dear 
reader, as you read this simple narrative, methinks I 
hear you say " Brave fellow ! " Let me tell you that 
you stand to-day condemned by heaven's court. Jesus 
Christ saw your condition, and placed himself in your 
stead, died, and redeemed you to God, leaving you to do 
nothing but believe on him. Will you do it ? 

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon 
him." — Isa. liii. 5. 

In the State of New York, some years ago, on adjoin- 
ing farms lived two thrifty farmers. One was the father 

265 



266 OXLY BELIEVE. 

of two charming daughters ; the other had two sons of 
unusual promise, who bore a very striking resemblance to 
each other. The sons were in the habit of making fre- 
quent calls at the home of the daughters, and everything 
went well, until the father of the girls had left to him, 
by a wealthy relation, a large amount of money. One 
night a robber gained access to his room, and, after beating 
him into a senseless condition, took the money, and made 
his escape. While descending the stairway, the robber 
met one of the daughters, who, being attracted by an 
unusual noise, was on her way to her father's room. As 
the burglar passed her, she raised his mask, and recog- 
nized him as her lover, and the son of the adjoining 
farmer. The alarm was given, the robber was arrested, 
tried, and sentenced to a long term in state's prison. 
The other son remained at home for a number of 
years ; finally, he was stricken down by disease. He 
saw that it was useless to entertain a hope of recovery. 
and requested that the neighbor and father of the two 
daughters be sent for. His request was granted, and the 
neighbor hastily summoned. As he took his seat beside 
the couch of the dying man, the latter, in a trembling 
voice, confessed that it was he, and not his brother, who 
had robbed and so cruelly beaten him, and that his brother 
had suffered all these long years in his stead, simply to 
shield the one he loved. Immediate steps were taken to 
secure the brother's release. When he was given his 
freedom, he said he knew of the guilt of his brother, 
but, rather than have him convicted, he took on himself 
the penalty, and suffered in his stead. So the blessed 
Christ saw that we were in an eternal prison of sin ; to 
release us, he suffered shame and imprisonment in our 
place, and freed us from its consequences. Only believe, 
and thou shalt be saved. 



ONLY BELIEVE. 267 

" So, then, ereri/ one of lis shall give an account of him- 
self to God:' — Rom. xiv. 12. 

When Daniel Webster was Secretary of State, during 
President Fillmore's administration, he was one day- 
invited to dine at the Astor House, New York, with a 
select party of eminent statesmen. 

Mr. Webster seemed weary with his journey, and, 
speaking but little, if at all, sank into a sort of revery, 
quite out of keeping with the occasion. 

After several unsuccessful attempts to draw him into 
conversation, a member of the party put this question to 
him : " Mr. Webster, will you kindly tell me what was 
the most important thought that ever occupied your 
mind ? " 

The venerable Webster slowly passed his hand over his 
forehead, and, in a low, soft tone, said, " The most impor- 
tant thought that ever occupied my mind was my indi- 
vidual responsibility to GodP 

And the same is the most important thought that ever 
entered the conception of any human mind, because 
" every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." 

An account of the deeds which we have done, and the 
deeds which we have left undone. And, in view of this 
great fact, it behooves us to prepare to meet our God. 
And while our God is a God of justice, he also is a God 
of mercy, and has provided a way by which we may 
escape that which unfits us for his presence. Love and 
mercy led him to give his only begotten Son, upon whom 
he laid the guilt of our evil deeds, and who paid their 
penalty on the Cross. And now he comes to you and to 
me, and says, "He that believeth on the Son shall be 
made a partaker of his righteousness, and shall have his 
evil deeds blotted out forever." 



268 ONLY BELIEVE. 

" Open thou mine eyes" — Ps. cxix. 18. 

There is an old legend, dating back to the seventh 
century, of St. Modabert who had such sympathy for his 
blind mother that he one day rushed forward, and kissed 
her eyes, and her sight came immediately to her, and she 
rejoiced in the beauties of nature as they shone about 
her. 

Whether the legend contains any truth, it matters not ; 
but it certainly gives us a very striking illustration of 
the kiss of Christ r s love as it opens the eyes of the peni- 
tent believer, and reveals to him the riches and beauty of 
the pardon of all sin, and makes him a dweller in the 
kingdom of our God. The sweet kiss of a sympathizing 
Saviour which relieves us of the haunting memories of 
our past life, and fits us for the joys of the presence of 
God. 

He will open your eyes, if you only believe. 

" So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.' 1 '' 

Heb. ix. 28. 

A minister relates the following, which occurred at 
one of his meetings among the Indians. He was preach- 
ing from the text, " Christ and him crucified." He drew 
a powerful picture of the scene at Gethsemane. The 
congregation was much moved. One tall Indian arose, 
and walked toward the pulpit with tears trickling down 
his red cheeks. " Did Jesus die for me — a poor Indian ? 
Me have no lands to give Jesus ; but me give Jesus my 
gun and my dog and my blankets." The minister told 
him that Christ could not accept such gifts. The Indian 
then hung his head in silent meditation, and presently 
said, " Will Jesus take poor Indian ? If so, here is poor 
Indian who gives himself to Jesus." 



ONLY BELIEVE. 269 

Nothing so pleases the adorable Lord as to have the 
penitent, sin-sick seeker cast himself, soul and body, on 
him. 

Oh, what a lovely spirit, that which prompts us to fall 
at his feet, and cry, '-Here, Lord, I give myself away: 
'tis all that I can do." And, my dear reader, all Christ 
requires us to do is to come and lay ourselves, sins and 
all, at his feet, and believe. 

" 80 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." 
Ample sacrifice, free salvation, life everlasting, complete 
pardon, perfect reconciliation, all branch out of that 
sentence, like so many streams from the spring as it 
gushes forth out of the hillside rocks ; and they each act 
as sentinels along the path from Calvary's cross to 
heaven's courts. 

" He that believeth on the So?i hath everlasting UfeP 

Jno. iii. 36. 

The Emperor of Eussia, some years ago, decided to 
liberate the forty millions of serfs of that country. He 
laid his plans before his councillors, but they did not 
approve of them. One morning the tramp of soldiers 
was heard in St. Petersburg, and there went forth a 
proclamation that every serf in Eussia was forever free. 
All the serfs had to do was to believe ; they did believe, 
and were free. My friend, eighteen centuries ago there 
went forth a proclamation to all the earth, of every 
nation and clime, of every tongue and language, that the 
slaves of sin, the slaves of Satan, were forever free, and 
all that was necessary on the part of the slave was to 
believe, and he would be lifted from the degradation of 
slaveiy and raised to the exalted position of the glory 
and honor of being made a son of the most high God. 
That proclamation has been opposed by the combined 



270 OXLY BELIEVE. 

forces of hell for all these long centuries, but to-day it 
stands out a more self-evident fact than ever before. It 
stands on the solid rock, Christ Jesus, and offers pardon, 
peace, and rest to every one. 

Oh! soul, will you beliere and be pardoned of sin and 
its attendant woes ; be relieved of the degrading name 
of servant, and assured of an everlasting habitation in 
that blest abode which the Son of God has gone to pre- 
pare for those that believe on him. " He that hath the 
Son hath life/' "He that believeth shall be saved," and 
" He that hath not the son shall not see life, but the 
wrath of God abideth on him, and he that believeth not 
shall be damned." 

" What mast I do to be saved?" — Acts xvi. 30. 

There is a very touching incident told of a minister, 
who had a son — a deaf mute. In the vicinity of their 
home, a gracious revival was in progress. The anxious 
father saw that his son was striving with the Spirit, but 
he could not communicate with him sufficiently to ex- 
plain the way of salvation. The son wrote, in a scrawl- 
ing hand, upon his slate, " Father, what must I do to be 
saved? " The father answered back, " My son, you must 
repent of your sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ." — " But how must I do this ? " the son wrote. 
The father explained it as best he could, but the unfortu- 
nate lad could not understand it. The distress of the 
parents became intense ; finally, they sent for the 
teacher at the asylum which the boy had attended ; but 
this failed to bring the desired result. All this time the 
anxious "parents were pouring out their souls to God, that 
his spirit might come and enlighten their son. Sud- 
denly, one day the spirit lifted the veil, and sweet peace 



ONLY BELIEVE. 271 

filled the soul of the mute. His joy was wonderful; he 
became an earnest minister among his own class, and 
told many the way of life. His difficulty was, he could 
not conceive the simplicity of salvation. 

It was so simple he could not see how it could save 
him. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
sin/ If be saved." Friend, this is all there is to it — only 
believe. This simplicity leaves you without one excuse ; 
without the remotest shadow of being justified by any 
defence you may bring to relieve yourself of the awful 
sentence awaiting the unsaved. " He that believeth 
shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be 
damned." 

" For ice shall all stand before the judgment seat of 
Christ." — Rom. xiv. 10. 

During our late war, a pressing call was made for 
volunteers to enlist in the defence of the Union. Men 
came flocking to the standard from all directions. Some 
whose appearance indicated a life of toil, some wearing 
the garb of humble citizens, some dressed in fine 
apparel, and whose life had been one of ease and luxury. 
They were all marched into line, and as they passed a 
certain point each one was required to place his name 
upon an immense register, and to exchange his clothes 
for the army uniform. The tattered garments of the 
hod-carrier, and the elegant dress of the gentleman, were 
each laid aside for uniforms of the same material. 
Whatever might have been the line of social separation 
in the past was now to be known no more. So it will be 
in that great day when all earth shall assemble before 
Christ the Judge. The poor, the rich, the small, the great, 
will all be assembled, unmindful of position, and be judged 



272 OXLY BELIEVE. 

in common by the blessed Jesus. Those that have be- 
lieved on him and have taken him as their Saviour 
meet him with joy and gladness. Those that have re- 
fused his mercy and pardon will be rejected by him. 
Dear friend, which will ye choose ? The decision may 
he made now, and the same shall regulate all time to 
come. Christ is able and willing to save you : waiting 
at the door of your heart to save you now. 

You may ask. " But how can I be saved ? " I answer, 
• Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be 
saved. Simple as anything can be. • only believe." '" 

" For the son of man is came to s^^J: and to save that 
which was lost." — Luke xix. 10. 

Several years ago a young man left his widowed 
mother's home in England to seek his fortune in a far-off 
land. Hardly had he established himself in his new 
home, when he fell into bad company, and gave himself 
up to utter worldliness. regardless of the prayers and 
parting words of his aged mother. During a business 
trip to another city, he was passing the door of a church 
one evening, when a lady handed him a gospel tract with 
the request that he read it carefully. He went to his 
room a little later, and to pass away the hour, began to 
read the tract. Its perusal led him to see how very in- 
consistent his course of life was. He left his room, and 
went to the nearest bookstore, purchased a Bible, and 
began reading it. The truths, the warnings, the invita- 
tions, the promises, found therein fastened deep the 
arrow of conviction on his soul ; for several days he 
carried his awful load of sin ; finally he came to the 
words. •'• For the son of man came to seek and to save 
that which was lost." He gave himself wholly into the 



ONLY BELIEVE. 273 

hands of his Saviour, and new light shone around him, 
and he was led to rejoice in Christian faith. 

For you, dear friend. Christ came to seek and to save. 
All that lies between you and eternal life is your will. 

If you want to be saved, all you have to do is to give 
up your will, and your all into the hands of Christ, and 
thou shalt be saved. 



•• Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to 
judgment : and some men they follow after." 

1 Tim. v. 24. 

A condemned criminal one night lay dreaming in his 
•cell. He dreamed that he was led forth to the scaffold, 
the rope carefully placed about his neck, and just as he 
felt "the trap give way, the victim of his crime appeared, 
and seizing him by the legs gave him a sharp jerk ; he 
thought his body was placed in a rude box, and taken to 
the grave. The murdered man followed him, and as he 
was being lowered in the grave, he exclaimed, - Oh, the 
wretch ! n The blood was oozing out of his side, and the 
dreamer begged him to let him alone, but he would not. 
He tried to extricate himself, but his victim held firmly 
to him, and hissed in his ear, " You think you are going 
to heaven, but not so ; you will go to hell, and there I 
will be to torment you.*' And so it is, some men's sins 
go before them to judgment, and condemn them, while 
others remain hidden until they stand before the throne 
of God. But in either case the consequences are appall- 
ing. Whether or not they rise up and precede you to 
judgment the eternal purposes of God cannot be altered, 
and one jot or tittle of his law cannot be changed. You 
stand, therefore, condemned, unsaved reader, and no 
power can remove or stay your sentence save Jesus 



274 OXLY BELIEVE. 

Christ the righteous. Simply believe on him, and trust 
the balance to him ; simply plead his merits and broad 
promises, and he will remit your sentence, and give you 
that liberty of which the world cannot know. 

"For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremon- 
gers, and murderers, and idolators. and whosoever loreth 
and maketh a Hey — Rev. xxii. 15. 

A few years ago in the city of St. Louis resided a 
lawyer of reputation, but who was an infidel. One Sab- 
bath afternoon he started to go to a drug store for some 
medicine for a member of the family. On his way he 
saw an immense crowd of people listening to a minister 
speaking of the love of Jesus. He halted a moment, 
but could not hear a word the speaker said. Xear by, 
mounted on a wagon, stood a man who was pouring forth 
a volume of blasphemy, and cursing the Bible and 
Christianity. 

The lawyer noticed he had quite a group of sympa- 
thizers around him, who laughed at his coarse jests, and 
loudly applauded his vile sentiments. He noticed also 
that this group of listeners was made up of the very 
dregs and scum of society. Thieves, burglars, prostitutes. 
and drunkards, constituted the admiring audience. The 
lawyer hung his head, and passed on. reflecting that he 
was thoroughly identified with these vile scoffers. He 
walked along chagrined and mortified, and without at- 
tending one of the revival services, without hearing a 
sermon, he renounced infidelity, and became a Christian, 
and to-day is an able minister of the Gospel. 

" For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremon- 
gers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loveth 
and maketh a lie." 

How nianv of us shun these classes in this life, but in 



ONLY BELIEVE. 275 

the end will be found without the wedding garment, and 
will be consigned to the same abode. Oh ! friend, would 
you escape such associates ? Let me tell you there is 
but one way : " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
thou shalt be saved." Saved from the eternal torment 
of hell and its associates, saved from remorse and shame, 
saved from banishment, and saved from the company of 
evil doers. Will you come and be saved ? The question 
is with you, and for you to decide. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



NOW. 



NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME. 77 

2 Cor. vii. 2. 



277 



NOW. 



" Thou art my hiding-place and my shield" 

Psa. cxix. 114. 
There is a story of an infidel, who, having a large 
amount of money with him, had occasion to pass through 
the wild mountainous region of Kentucky. One even- 
ing he perceived that he had lost his way, and to add to 
his solicitude, night was upon him. He rode along some 
distance, and as the shades of evening closed around him, 
he saw near by a little cabin ; he rode up to the door, and 
asked if he could stop until morning. The lady informed 
him that her husband was out hunting, but would shortly 
return, and no doubt grant his request. While they 
were talking, a great, stout man, dressed in deerskin from 
head to foot, and carrying on his shoulder a rifle, while 
by his side hung a large hunting knife, walked up. The 
traveller's heart almost failed him at the sight of such 
a fierce-looking man. He was given permission to re- 
main through the night. When the hour to retire came, 
the hunter told him that he would conduct him to his 
room when he was ready to retire. Fearing his life, the 
traveller concluded to sit up all night, and guard his 
treasure. Finally, the hunter said, " Well, stranger, if 
you will not go to bed, you must attend family prayers. 
I never lie down without first reading a chapter in the 
Bible, and thanking God for his mercies." He then took 
down the old family Bible, and after reading a chapter, 
knelt and asked God to bless also the " stranger within 

279 



280 NOW. 

his gates." The infidel retired in perfect confidence, 
and rebuked himself because the Christianity that he 
had always so vigorously rejected could, in the hour of 
trial and danger, bring him a sense of such absolute 
security. 

So my friend, though you reject the Spirit's offers of 
mercy now, yet when danger o'erwhelms thee, me thinks 
I see you fleeing to God with your plaintive cry, seeking 
shelter. To insure his unchanging grace, I entreat you 
to heed the entreaties of God's spirit, and come now and 
accept Christ, and it will be well with thy soul. 



" / have called, and ye refused." — Prov. i. 24. 
A Christian gentleman went into a remote settlement 
to do some missionary work. Among the first calls he 
made was one at the home of a lady, about thirty years 
old. He asked her if she was a Christian, she replied 
" No." He then asked her if she felt no concern about 
the welfare of her soul. " Yes," she said, " I think few 
have been more anxious than I once was. About fifteen 
years ago, I felt that I was a great sinner, living in 
open rebellion to God ; my distress ofttimes drove sleep 
from my eyes. I felt the calls of the Holy Spirit. 
I also knew that I ought to yield to His pressing en- 
treaties." — " Why did you not yield " ? asked the mis- 
sionary. — " Because I did not want to cut off my pleasures 
in the bloom of youth. I tried hard to shut my heart 
against all thoughts of eternity, but they would return to 
me. I tried novel reading, and as a last resort, I went 
to the ballroom to drown such thoughts : there I suc- 
ceeded, and since that time have had little or no such 
trouble." — "Do you not fear you have grieved away the 
Spirit of God ? " said the missionary. — "I have not the 



Now. 281 

least doubt of it, and that I am totally lost. Nothing 
that you or any human power can do or say will move 
my stony heart to repentance and faith in Christ. It is 
too late now. The die is cast, my doom is sealed." 

Oh ! my lost reader, are you rejecting the Blessed 
Spirit's calls ? Are you drowning his entreaties in the 
folly of worldly pleasure ? God sends to you these words. 
■• My spirit shall not always strive with man." There 
may come in your case a time when such gracious calls 
will be withheld, and leave your soul to its final abode in 
the torments of hell. 



"Behold, I stand at the door and knock" — Rev. iii. 20. 

A gentleman who had spent much of his life in the 
gold- mines of Australia, where he accumulated large 
wealth, decided to return to America, and visit the home 
of his bo3~hood. A great change had taken place since 
his departure ; the loving parents had long since gone to 
their reward, and an only brother lived at the old home- 
stead. He arrived at the station late one night, and 
decided to walk to where his brother lived, thinking the 
exercise would benefit him after his long vo}~age ; he 
soon arrived at the scene of his happy boyhood, and 
walked to the door he had so often entered, only to find 
it securely barred ; he rapped, and a call came from 
within, " Who is there ? " — " A friend," was the reply. 
'•Well, what friend"? — "A brother," responded the 
weary traveller. — "Xo one is admitted into this house 
at such an untimely hour as this, neither would any one 
with good intentions be prowling around at such an hour 
of the night ; begone at once, or I will help you," said 
the disturbed brother. The brother, not caring to dis- 
close his identity, quietly left the premises. At the 



282 now. 

breakfast table next morning, the different members of 
the family were each offering a solution of the mystery, 
when a knock was heard at the door, and in stepped the 
long-absent brother. The scene can better be imagined 
than written. Suffice it to say, the brother at home 
was presented with a handsome sum of gold, and they 
spent many happy days together. 

Christ our elder brother, with riches untold, stands at 
the door of every heart, and gently knocks for admit- 
tance ; if we open unto him he will come in unto us, and 
bestow untold riches. If we refuse his gentle entreaties, 
he will refuse to hear our cry when the waters of death 
overflow us. 

Reader, have you responded to his knock of admit- 
tance, and thrown wide open the door of your heart, say- 
ing, ••Come, Lord Jesus.*' If you have not, may the 
spirit lead you to do so, and that without delay. 

"Jiise, he catteth thee." — Mark x. 49. 

An old man, past his threescore and ten years, 
was approached by a Christian one day, who inquired if 
he had a hope in Christ. The old man answered, in a 
trembling voice, " jSTo." — " Do you believe the Bible ? " 
asked the man. — " Every word of it," admitted the ven- 
erable old man. "Well, does not that book teach us 
that we must be born again?" — '-Certainly, it does." 
— " Has the Holy Spirit ever knocked at your heart's 
door ? " — " It has done so repeatedly, sir, but I have 
each time refused Him admittance. Since I became a 
man. the cares of this world have so taken my time and 
thoughts that I have had no time to devote to such 
things." The gentleman asked him if he felt no terrors 
coupled with the meeting of a just God. He replied, 



trow. 283 

" I do. but my doom is sealed, my lot is a just one. The 
Spirit has been refused ; now I am reaping the fruits of 
my sowing."' 

The old, old story that prompted God centuries ago to 
say, i; I called, but ye refused." Oh ! the remorse that 
sentence may cause you as you stand before the great 
Judge. " I called, but ye refused." Reader, have you 
rejected the Spirit's entreaties, oh ! so often ? I come 
to you with one more invitation, to open your heart, and 
bid him come in. I come to say, " Arise, he calleth for 
thee." He is calling, gently calling ; quench not his 
pleadings, but stand up and say, " Here, Lord, am I." 

The story in the illustration is only one in a million 
almost the same. Youth points to strong manhood, and 
puts the time there ; strong manhood points to old age, 
and" says, " That is the appropriate time, when I am too 
old to let the cares of life disturb me, and when I shall 
have ample time to attend to such things." As the steps 
grow feeble, and the mind unsettled, despair comes, and 
the icy hand of death points to you. " He that seek- 
eth me early shall find me." Therefore, " Arise, he 
calleth for thee," now. 

" 1 have called, and ye refused." — Prov. i. 24. 

It is said of Lady Huntington, that as she was being 
attired in order to be present at a social gathering of 
friends, that the thought came to her of her soul's 
welfare. The Spirit came and convicted her of her 
life of sin and folly. She went to the party, paid her 
respects, and returned home. When she had closed 
her chamber door, she fell upon her knees and gave 
herself to Christ. Peace flowed into her soul like a river, 
and she devoted her life to the cause of her Master. 



284 Now. 

The Spirit knocked, and she opened the door of her 
heart. Reader, have you done so ? or have you refused 
the entreaties ? If you have, let rne say, resist no longer. 
You may be in an instant called before the judgment 
bar of God, and as you endeavor to excuse your unreadi- 
ness, be confronted with these words, too plain to be mis- 
taken, " / have called, and ye refused." Now, " depart 
from me." 

Resist not the Spirit. Behold, "I knock at the 
door, if any man will open, I will come in unto him." 
Christ is now knocking, will you unlock the door of your 
heart and greet him with, "Behold the Lamb of God 
that taketh away the sins of the world ? " and may the 
edict be published this day in the courts of heaven, " I 
have called, and ye have accepted." 

" I called upon the Lord in distress." — Ps. cxviii. 5. 

Near the home of my boyhood lived a man known far 
and near as the most wicked and ungodly wretch in the 
whole communit}^. When angry, his voice could be heard 
throughout the neighborhood, cursing and swearing. 
His slanderous tongue alienated his neighbors. His 
awful wickedness made his former friends ashamed to 
be found in his company. A violent fever seized him, 
and as the awful darkness of the future stared him in 
the face, he began to call upon God. A minister was 
summoned, and, when he arrived, an earnest request was , 
made that he should pray for the sick man's soul. The 
man recovered, and soon fell into the same course of 
wickedness. " He called upon the Lord in distress ; " in 
health he found no time and no need of calling on him. 

How true is this to human nature. Cowardly human 
nature lives in open defiance and gross wickedness in 



now. 285 

health ; but when danger and distresses come, how pitiful 
the cry that goes up from our hearts, and how soon, 
when danger is past, do we relax and fall into the same 
sinful ways. Oh, kind reader, let me entreat you to 
seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him 
while he is near. " For it is time to seek the Lord," 
now. " Woe to him that is alone when he falleth." 



" The fierce anger of the LorZ may be turned" 

Num. xxv. 4. 

When Agathocles was going to besiege Carthage, the 
people saw the extremity to which they were reduced, 
and imputed their misfortune to the anger of their god 
Saturn. That a sufficient atonement be made for this, — 
to them a great crime, — they sacrificed two hundred of 
the children of their most eminent citizens, hundreds of 
the inhabitants also voluntarily offering themselves to 
appease their god's anger. 

thou, reader of these lines, art thou without hope in 
Christ ? The fierce anger of God Almighty rests upon 
you, because you have rejected the overtures of his 
patient mercy, and because you have crucified his own 
beloved Son. 

You are trampling the precious blood of the Lamb of 
God under your feet. You are crying at every step, by 
your actions, " Crucify him ! crucify him ! " You are 
saying, by your life, that you will not have this man rule 
over you. You are saying, in your guilty heart, " Away 
with him ! away with him ! " 

Oh, let me hinder your downward course by throwing 
this in your way. " The fierce anger of the Lord may 
be turned," may be turned now by giving your heart to 
the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing your wayward steps, 



286 now. 

and trusting him to secure your pardon and reconcilia- 
tion. This is the way it may be turned. 

"Oh, while thy waiting Saviour's nigh, 
Sinner, to his bosom fly : 
Fly for succor, pardon, rest, 
To that Fount, forever blest." 

" For what shall It profit a man if he shall gain the 
u-liole world and lose his own soul ? Or what shall a man 
give in exchange for his soul? " — Mark. viii. 36-37. 

" A wag once halted a traveller, and asked him this 
question : ' My kind sir, which had you rather be, Croe- 
sus, who possesses great wealth and a vicious spirit, or 
Socrates, who was as poor as a church mouse, but re- 
nowned for virtue ? ' The traveller replied, true to 
human nature, " In this life I had rather be Croesus ; in 
death, Socrates.' " 

In life many of us will give for our souls, a few short 
j^ears of folly and wickedness. In death, the same man 
would give a million worlds and all their wealth, were it 
only in his power to escape one hour of the remorse and 
dread, that scene presents. 

friend, now is the time to lay the foundation of that 
life which will tide thee over the pending storm, and 
have the great, strong arm of God with you as you pass 
through the valley of the shadow of death. 

" Choose you this day whom ye will serve." 

Josh. xxiv. 15. 

" Over the unrecorded death and grave of one of Frank- 
lin's Arctic explorers, on the ice-bound shore of Beechy 
Island, were found these words : ' Choose you this day 



xow. 287 

whom you will serve." It is told of one, who. in the 
Polar zone of death anil night, had found the entrance to 
an eternal summer in the paradise of God. Looking 
over an endless sea of ice, the dying man saw that his 
eternity would be according to the choice which he had 
made."' — Heu. John Waugh. 

So your eternity may be. dear reader, according to the 
choice you make this day. Therefore, " Choose 3-011 this 
day whom you will serve." 

As a lover of your soul and its eternal interests, I 
urge an immediate decision. Disaster may choose for 
you. if you wait. Your decision to-day will cut oft' all 
the avenues of such liabilities, and tide you triumphantly 
over. Therefore, choose Christ Jesus noa\ and enlist in 
his glorious service, looking forward to the reward that 
God -has promised those that serve him. 

It is a debt you owe your God and your immortal soul, 
to choose now whom ye will serve. 



"lam that bread of life." — Jxo. vi. 48. 

In " Pilgrim's Progress" we read of Christian fleeing 
from the city of destruction with his fingers in his ears? 
crying. " Life ! life ! " 

This is the only way some of us will ever get away 
from our evil surroundings, and find eternal life. Is it 
not a very wise thing to flee, before the chains of sin get 
a more firm hold upon us ? My unsaved friend, the 
longer you remain in your present condition, the harder 
it becomes to throw off those chains. The fastenings be- 
come rusted, the links become more set, and. after a time. 
you will find it almost impossible to release yourself. 
Christ is ready now to break the fetters, and release you. 
He waits at your heart's door. He gently calls you to 



288 now. 

come now. It matters not how fast sin's clanking chains 
hold yon. Just come as you are, and his great hands 
will break asunder the great links, and free you. And if 
Christ " makes you free, you are free indeed." 



"He heard that it teas Jesus of Nazareth." 

Mark x. 47. 

A poor, uneducated Greenlander for the first time 
heard the love and death of Jesns explained, and said, 
" If this Saviour underwent all this untold suffering, and 
died for me, from henceforth he shall be my Saviour." 

Unsaved soul, would to God that the same cry might 
go up from your heart now. 

Did you ever think for five minutes that the shame, 
the sorrow, the humiliation, the privations, the griefs, 
the indescribable pain that he bore was for you ? And, 
with this undeniable fact before you, will you not 
solemnly covenant with your God that you will hence- 
forth and forever take him as your own personal Saviour, 
and that you will hereby dedicate your mind, your 
strength, your body, your soul, your very all, to him 
from this day evermore. It is not performing an act of 
benevolence on your part ; it is a duty, which you owe 
to your God, to your soul, and to your fellow-man. 



" He was wounded for our transgressions, he ivas bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace teas upon 
h im ; and with his stripes tee are healed." — Isa. liii. 5. 

A gentleman of wealth and social position attempted 
one day to cross the street while intoxicated ; he stag- 
gered into the middle of the street just as a carriage was 
passing. A poor street-sweeper saw his danger, and 



now. 289 

sprang in front of the team, and rescued the gentleman, 
though he himself was knocked down, and run over. 
As he lay there, in the last throes of death, the gentle- 
man saw what he had done to rescue him. The words of 
our text came to his mind, and he turned from his worldly 
life to an active service for Christ. 

Unsaved friends, did the thought ever come over your 
mind that you caused the beloved Son of God Almighty 
to leave his throne on high, and come to earth to bear 
the insults of men, and finally die a death of shame ? 
You had a hand in this death, my reader, just as much 
as the Jews of eighteen hundred years ago. You helped 
to crucify him. Your very actions condemn you. The 
course of your life supports the accusation. 

Now, in view of this fact, coupled with that of a sin- 
pardoning God, will you not come to the Saviour, and 
plead pardon, and be reconciled to God through him. 

He stands awaiting your decision. Will you " choose 
this day whom ye will serve," and throw yourself wholly 
and completely upon the merits of a crucified Lord ? 
Your answer to this question may decide your future 
for all eternity. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



DANGER IN DELAY. 



" HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS ? " 

1 Kings, xviii. 21. 



291 



DANGER IN DELAY. 



"Behold, now is the accepted time" — 2 Cor. vi. 2. 

A minister choosing this as his text had among his 
congregation a reviler, who was known for his opposition 
to any religions worship. 

Before the preacher had proceeded far with his dis- 
course, the reviler stood up, and said, " I am now almost 
sixty years old ; I remember when a boy of ten hearing 
the same words ; here I stand before you an old man, 
and"feel that I am as safe as fifty years ago." 

Before the minister had concluded his sermon, a heavy 
storm gathered, loud peals of thunder added to the fear- 
fulness of the occasion. The wind became stronger and 
stronger, until the little church could no longer stand 
before it. As the few who were unhurt by the disaster 
ran hither and thither in their efforts to alleviate the 
sufferings of the injured ones, the minister came to 
where the poor unfortunate reviler lay wedged between 
two heavy timbers. 

The man of God began trying to release the poor pris- 
oner, who cried out in his agony of soul, " Let my body 
go ; I am too far gone to ever be removed alive. Oh ! 
pray for my soul. Oh ! that I had heeded the words 
long ago. To my soul the future is more terrible than 
the storm I have just gone through," and as he breathed 
his last, these words escaped his lips, " The summer is 
ended, the harvest is past, and I go to eternity lost ! 
lost!" 

293 



294 DANGER IN DELAY. 

Eeader. how is it with you ? Are you out of the ark ? 
Kemember, there may come an accident that will, with- 
out a moment's warning, send }t>u into the presence of 
the living God without the wedding garment. Let me 
ask you, as a friend, to meditate five minutes on your 
own case, and to remember that the decision may govern 
the eternal welfare of your immortal soul. 

" Escape for thy life." — Gim. xix. 17. 

" While Napoleon's army occupied Moscow, though the 
city had been fired by the retreating inhabitants, the 
French officers were drinking, dancing, and carousing in 
the midst of their danger. 

" A man came rushing into the room, and interrupted 
the dance. His livid face and frantic gestures stopped 
even the music. ' The magazine ! the magazine ! ' he 
cried hoarsely. l The flames have almost reached the 
powder.' For a moment an awful silence, like that of 
the shadow of death, settled upon the gay company. 
Then one young man, waving his jewelled hand above 
his head, shouted, ' One more dance, and defiance to the 
flames ! ' In their insane hilarity they were hurled into 
eternity." 

Unsaved soul, as you read the above incident, you won- 
der how men can do thus. But let me say to you, in all 
love, that Satan has set about your soul a far more des- 
tructive magazine, and I warn you solemnly to " escape 
for thy life " to Jesus Christ the only refuge. If you do 
not, you are lost. You will be hurled into eternity to 
stand before God. 

"Almost thou persuadest me." — Acts xxvi. 28. 
Years ago, desiring to take a boat-ride, a gentleman 
secured a skiff, and went a little way up the river above 



DANGER IN DELAY. 295 

the Falls of Niagara; he came floating quietly down the 
stream, enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Nearer and nearer to the rapids he came. Persons 
along the shore warned him of his danger, but he shouted 
back, " Not yet ; I will soon turn my course." He floated 
on, unmindful of his great danger, until a cry of distress 
told those watching him that he was in the rapids. 
His boat was carried over, and he was hurled into the 
surging abyss. 

Beloved reader, which way is your bark floating ? Is 
it anchored to Christ Jesus ? or are you letting the cur- 
rent carry you at will ? Let me warn you that below 
you is a raging current that is carrying you gradually 
down, down, and soon the tide will become so swift you 
cannot turn back. Now you can reach the harbor. " Turn 
ye, turn }^e, why will ye die," with the harbor of safety 
so near, and Avhose gates are wide open to admit you. 



" For we must all appear before the judgment seat of 
Christ, tli at every one may receive the things done in his 
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or 
bad." — 2 Cor. v. 10. 

" A stage driver in California who had been long ac- 
customed to the rough manners of frontier life, one day 
lay dying. For years he had driven the stage over a very 
rough and dangerous road. As he observed his breath 
grow shorter, and his hands becoming colder, he put his 
foot out of the bed, and began swinging it to and fro, as 
if in search of something ; his attendants asked him what 
was wanted. He said, ' I am on the down grade, and 
cannot get my foot on the brake.' " 

Dear reader are you on the down grade ? Sooner or 
later you and I will be called into the presence of the 



296 DAXGEB IX DEL AT. 

Great Judge to answer for our lives. Will such a sum- 
mons to you be welcomed ? Oh. while not too far down 
the grade, grasp the brake, and turn your course. 

" Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost 
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make 
intercession for themP — Heb. vii. 25. 

Mr. Carl Steinman, who in 1846 made a trip to Iceland. 
thus describes a visit to the crater of Mount Hecla. 

On the brink he was prostrated by an eruption of the 
crater, and held a prisoner by the lava surrounding him. 
He says, " Oh, the horrors of that awful realization ! 
There, over the mouth of a black and heated abyss, I was 
held suspended, a helpless and conscious prisoner, to be 
hurled downward by the next great throe of trembling 
Nature. ' Help ! help ! help ! for the love of God, help ! ' 
I shrieked in the very agony of my despair. I had noth- 
ing to rely upon but the mercy of heaven, and I prayed 
to God as I never prayed before, to blot out my sins, and 
not let them follow me to judgment. All at once I heard 
a shout ; and looking around, I beheld, with feelings that 
cannot be described, my faithful guide hastening down 
the side of the crater to my relief. ' I warned you ! ' he 
said. •' You did ! ' cried I, ' but forgive and save me 
for I am perishing.' He reached out his hand, and took 
me, and set my feet on solid ground. I was free, but 
still on the very verge of the awful pit." 

Reader, is the lava of hell beginning to flow about 3*011 ? 
are your feet already being entangled ? Oh ! make haste 
to reach out your hand to your Saviour and guide, who is 
able to set your feet on the solid rock, and to stablish 
your ways. Oh ! that you could see your danger, and 
seek refuge before it is too late. 



DANGER IN DELAY. 297 

•• If they /tear not 3foses and the prophets, neither will 
they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." 

Luke xvi. 31. 

" A certain nobleman lay on his death-bed, suffering 
untold agony of body and soul. To those around him 
he spoke as follows : ' Oh ! if the righteous judge 
would only try me once more ; if he would only spare 
me a little longer, in what a spirit would I spend the 
remainder of my days. Every means of grace, every 
opportunity of spiritual improvement should be dearer 
to me than all the riches, pleasures, and honors of earth. 
But, alas, why amuse myself with such fond imagina- 
tions. I see but a sad, horrible night approaching, 
bringing with it the blackest of darkness for ever and 
ever. 1 ' 

The same story has been told for centuries; we are 
ever ready to form good resolutions when we are so near 
death that it is impossible to carry them out. " To-day 
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." 

Oh ! soul, why wait ? Why put it off until some 
future time ; it is just as easy to believe now as it will 
be at any future time ; the way of salvation is just as 
plain now as it will ever be, though the angels of 
heaven come and proclaim it to you. The threadbare 
excuse of another trial will not relieve your load of re- 
morse one iota in the future world. 

If the brethren of the rich man who had Moses and 
the prophets were inexcusable, surely you are also, who 
have Christ and the apostles and an innumerable array 
of witnesses. If the opportunity of a new trial was 
denied Dives, it stands to reason that the same will be 
denied you. The choice is at your door. " Choose you, 
this day, whom you will serve." 



298 DANGER IN DELAY. 

" But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right- 
eousness ; and all these things shall be added unto your 

Matt. vi. 33. 

A young man came to an aged professor of the college 
he was attending, and with face all aglow, told him his 
long-cherished wish had been gratified. He had ob- 
tained the consent of his parents to study law ; he went 
on telling the professor how he would spare no pains in 
perfecting his education. The aged man who had been 
listening with patience and kindness, gently said, " Well, 
and when you have finished your studies, what do you 
purpose to do then ? " — " Then I shall take my degree," 
said the young student. " And what then ? " asked the 
venerable professor." — " ; Then I shall have a number of 
difficult cases, and attract attention, and win a great repu- 
tation." — " And then ? " repeated the professor. — '• Then 
I shall be called upon to fill some important office of 
State," said the student. — " And then ? " said the old 
man. — " Then I shall live in honor, and look forward to 
a happy old age," replied the young lawyer. — " And 
then ? " repeated the professor. — " And then ? " replied 
the youth, " I shall die." — " And then ? " asked the 
listener. — The student could not answer, but hung his 
head, and left the professor's presence. 

The student was preparing for everything but that 
which is most important. 

My unsaved reader, how is it with you ? are you 
following the same course, in direct violation of a great 
command of Christ, " Seek ye first the kingdom of God ?"' 
That is your duty, the duty you owe to God and to your 
immortal soul. Make that the first and greatest object 
of your life, and you will be blessed in this life, and 
find eternal joy in the life that is hid with Christ in 
God. 



DAXGER IX DEL AT. ^,i<! 

" Oh remember that my life is wind." — Job. vii. 7. 

Colonel R. H. Conwell said, while spending some time 
in China, he was one evening in a gambling den, and 
saw two men drinking and playing cards. Both were 
Americans, one past middle age, the other just blooming 
into manhood. As the elder was shuffling the cards, the 
young man began humming in a low tone the hymn : — 

" One sweetly solemn thought 
Comes to me o'er and o'er, 
I am nearer home to-day 
Than I have been before." 

The man threw down his cards, and asked his com- 
panion where he had learned that song. The youth re- 
plied " at Sunday school." " Come, Harry," said he, " here 
is what I have won from you. I have played my last 
game and drunk my last drink ; I am sorry I have mis- 
lead you." The two gamblers were reclaimed for Christ 
through the influence of a little hymn, showing that 
each setting sun we are one day nearer the gate of 
eternity. 

Dear reader, remember that your life is but as the 
wind, and may you at once set out to prepare for the 
coming of the messenger. Remember, you are nearer 
eternity to-day than you have been before. 

•• And what I say unto you. I say unto all : Watch." 

Mark xiii. 37. 

A train running at full speed plunged through the 
opening of a drawbridge, down, down, into the rushing 
torrent below. The bridge that had so often stood under 
the strain of heavy trains was still perfect. Xo fault 



300 DANGER IN DEL AT. 

could be attached to it. But the watchman, on opening 
the draw, forgot to put out the danger signal, and as 
the heavy train hove in sight, the engineer saw the 
signal, "All's well," and without slackening speed, he 
sent his train into the chasm with its load of precious 
freight. The only excuse that could be offered was, the 
watchman was not watching. The awful result of his 
carelessness so weighed upon his mind, that he became a 
raving maniac, and now walks his cell with only one 
thought, " If I only had been watching." 

Header, how is it with you ? Are you ready and 
watching ? If not, imagine the remorse you must suffer 
in the next world, because you did not watch and pre- 
pare for your Lord's coming. 



"For thou Lord art good, and ready to forgive: and 
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." 

Ps. lxxxvi. 5. 

An actress was passing through the streets of an 
English city one lovely afternoon, and was attracted by 
singing, in a poor cottage near the street. Her curiosity 
led her to peep in at the open door, where she saw a few 
earnest souls mingling their voices in praises to God. 
They were singing that sweet hymn, — 

" Depth of mercy, can there be 
Mercy still reserved for me." 

The words went direct to her heart. She went her 
way, but they followed her. She sought and found 
Christ. She went to her manager, and asked him to 
release her, but he refused. At last he consented, if she 
would appear once more in a piece in which she was 
quite popular. She consented, and in the evening 



DANGER IN DELAY. 301 

appeared at the theatre. The play required her first to 
sing a song ; and when the curtain went up, the orches- 
tra began the accompaniment. But she stood as if lost 
in thought. The music ceased, and, supposing her to he 
overcome by embarrassment, the band again commenced. 
A second time they paused for her to begin, and still 
she did not open her lips. A third time the air was 
played, and then, with clasped hands and eyes suffused 
with tears, she sang, — 

" Depth of mercy, can there be 
Mercy still reserved for me ? 
Can my God his wrath forbear ? 
Me, the chief of sinners, spare ? " 

The performance suddenly ended. Some ridiculed, 
but others were led " to consider their ways," and cry for 
mercy, too. She lived a consistent Christian life, and 
at length became the wife of a minister. 

Eev. E. M. Loxg. 

" Mercy still reserved for thee, 
Seek thy pardon now, to-day, 
To-morrow thou mayest never see, 
Oh, the danger in delay." 



" The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." 

Ps. xiv. 1 ; liii. 1. 

A young English lad decided to leave the home of his 
childhood, and seek his fortune in a far-off land. As his 
mother planted on his cheek her farewell kiss, she 
entreated him to hold fast the faith in Christ, which he 
had so early professed. He turned his face toward a 
strange country. Ere he had long been settled in his 
new home, he fell into bad company ; evil associates 



302 DANGER IN DELAY. 

influenced him. He forgot his early training, and went 
from bad to worse, until he joined a sect called " Fami- 
lists " ; the first principle they sought to instil in his 
mind was that there is no God. The young man was 
led to commit a crime, whose punishment was death. 
As he was brought to the place of execution, he re- 
quested a few moments in which to warn his friends ; 
and uttered these words, " Say what you will, surely 
there is a God, loving to his friends, and terrible to his 
enemies." Then, reader, if there really is a God, permit 
me to ask you, how can you expect to meet him in peace 
when your heart is still full of that which he so detests, 
when your heart is yet unwashed in the blood of the 
lamb ? AVas there ever so solemn a question as this, 
How will you meet God ? 

There are two ways to meet him. One way is to 
triumphantly be borne to his presence, and receive the 
sweet assurance, " Enter thou into the joys of thy Lord." 
The other. " Depart from me, ye cursed. I called, and 
ye gave me no answer." Oh, the danger in delaying our 
preparation to meet God. 

" Escape for thy life." — Gen. xix. 17. 

" During a fierce gale at sea, a ship which had become 
unmanageable was hurled with great force against a huge 
rock and completely wrecked. The force of the shock 
had landed the captain and his wife on a high rock, not 
far from shore. The tide was rising, and in a very 
short time the waves would dash over the rock upon 
which they stood. There was only one chance for 
them ; if they could spring upon the crest of one of the 
great waves, they would be borne safely to the shore. 
The captain explained to his wife that a moment's 



DANGER IX DELAY. 303 

delay would let them fall where the water was not deep 
enough to carry them to land. ' The very instant you 
hear my words, you must spring with all your might,' 
the captain said to her. He watched until a heavy wave 
came, and he cried, ' Spring for your life.' She hesi- 
tated only an instant, but the wave had passed, and she 
fell, a helpless, bruised mass, on the rocks below." Oh, 
how many souls to-day languish in eternal woe, simply 
because they hesitated to accept Christ until too late ! 
Unexpected misfortune overtook them, and they awoke 
in eternity. Reader, how is it with you ? 



" What shall a man give in exchange for his soid?" 

Matt. xvi. 26. 

A few years ago a terrible cyclone swept over a small 
city, and carried death and destruction in its pathway. 
Scores were taken out of the wreck, maimed, bruised, and 
dying. Among the number was a lady of great wealth, 
who saw that her race was run. She requested her 
attendants to call a minister. When the man of God 
arrived, she cried out in the agony of her soul, " Oh, 
pray for my lost immortal souk" As the tender hands 
sought to relieve her bodily pains, she said, " Oh, let my 
body alone ; pray that my soul may escape the awful 
doom I see before me. Oh, that I could be spared to 
make amends for my life of sin ; gladly would I devote 
my life, my wealth, and my all to be spared this awful 
darkness I am in." She passed to the beyond without a 
ray of hope in Christ. Oh, my unconverted reader ! such 
a day may come to you, as to the unfortunate lady. 
Gladly would you give ten thousand worlds to avert 
the doom awaiting you, but alas ! it will be too late ! too 
late! 



304 DANGER IN DELAY. 

" Then shall he say also to then) on the left hand, 
Depart from me, ye cursed." — Matt. xxv. 41. 

Dr. Chaffee gives us the following illustration : " Two 
brothers had from boyhood made their homes in a New 
England town. The elder had won a reputation as an 
attorney, while the younger had given himself over to 
evil habits. The younger brother was brought before 
the bar of justice, and his brother appeared, and plead 
for him ; for his sake the culprit was released. Some 
time after, the younger brother disobeyed the law, and 
was brought into court ; again the faithful brother ap- 
peared, and plead for him. Once more the guilty one 
was allowed to go free. Years passed, and at last the 
lawyer ascended the bench. One day they brought 
again the erring brother, on a criminal charge. But 
the judge's face was stern. " It is too late/"' he said. 
"As an advocate. I could plead for you; as a judge, I 
cannot. Arise and receive sentence." 

Christ is now pleading before the Father for you, 
unsaved reader, but there will come a time when you 
will stand before him as a judge. Will it then be too 
late ? Will you reject his offers to secure your pardon, 
until he ascends the bench, and closes every avenue 
of mercy that he now holds out to you ? I simply 
ask the question, and leave you to settle it in your 
own heart. 

" And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." 

Jxo. v. 40. 

A few years ago the department at Washington sent 
out special messengers to look into the needs of a certain 
class who had applied for aid through the pension 
bureau. A messenger came to a certain town, and noti- 



DANGER IN BELAY. 305 

fled a poor applicant that lie was ready to help him in 
furthering his application for aid. The poor, poverty- 
stricken fellow thought a day or two would make no 
difference, and went on about his daily affairs. When 
he went to meet the messenger, alas ! he was too late. 
The messenger had left the town, and had forwarded the 
application to the department, with these words written 
in large red letters, " Failed to appear in his own 
behalf." The department consigned the paper to the 
waste-basket, and erased the applicant's name from the 
pension rolls. Exactly similar is the case of the sinner. 
Christ has sent to you special messengers to help you in 
your application for life eternal. You keep deferring the 
matter, and it may be your name will be erased from 
"the Book of Life." Remember, reader, God says, 
" My Spirit will not always strive with man." You may 
grieve, time and again, the Holy Spirit, but there also 
may come a time when the Spirit will be withdrawn from 
appearing in your behalf. Where will you find succor 
then as you stand before the awful majesty of the 
Kings of Kings ? 

There are yet messengers waiting to aid you. 

While the Spirit waits for thee, 
Quickly to thy Saviour flee. 

"Almost, thou persuadest me to he a Christian." 

Acts xxvi. 28. 

In the Rocky Mountains there is a place called " The 
Western Divide," a rugged peak towering heavenward, 
and forming a great mass of overhanging rock, from 
which fall the most beautiful and sparkling drops of 
pure water. If the wind comes from the west, the 
drops are blown to the eastern side of the mountain, 



306 DANGER IN DELAY. 

and find their home in the stormy Atlantic ; but on the 
other hand, if the wind blows from the east, the drops 
fall on the western slope, and are carried to the calm 
and peaceful Pacific. Oh ! my undecided friend, it may 
be that your chances of eternal life hang by a very 
slender cord. Let me say, resist no more the Spirit's 
calling, in doing so you may forever decide your future 
destiny, and go into the presence of your God almost 
saved, but lost. 

Halt not between two opinions. 



"Be sure your sin will find you out." — Xum. xxxii. 23. 

There was a custom among the ancient Egyptians that 
forbade praises being bestowed upon the dead on funereal 
occasions, without observing the following conditions : 
Judges were to be appointed, whose duty it was to ex- 
amine into the past life of the deceased ; if any one 
had aught against him, he could appear and state his 
grievances. If the deceased had led a wicked life, the 
judges condemned his name to perpetual infamy ; nor 
could his relatives erect any monument to his memory. 
If nothing was brought against the deceased, permission 
was granted the relatives to proceed with the funeral 
discourse, which consisted of a recital of the worthy 
deeds of the dead. 

We are told that in heaven there is a record out of 
which every man is to be judged, according to the deeds 
done in the body. When a soul is summoned to stand 
before the judgment seat, and his evil deeds appear 
against him, then he is to be cast into " outer darkness " ; 
but when his evil deeds have been washed from the 
heavenly record through the blood of Christ, then he is 
to be welcomed to the eternal enjoyment of heaven 



DANGER IN DELAY. 307 

Kind reader, how stands your record ? has the blood 
of the Lamb been applied to your page, and made it 
clean and " whiter than snow " ? Oh ! that I eonld im- 
press upon yon the awfnlness of "falling into the hands 
of the living God.*' While it is called to-day. I warn yon 
to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on Christ 
Jesus, for "be sure your sins will find you out," and 
when yon most need some sustaining hand, they will rise 
up before yon and condemn yon. As you read these 
lines, there is a hope for you. " To-day, if ye will hear 
his voice, harden not your hearts." 



" Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient 
season I will call for thee." — Acts xxiv. 25. 

I read not long since an account of the execution of a 
murderer. The friends of the condemned man had 
made a strong effort to obtain a pardon, but were un- 
successful. They next sought a commutation of the 
sentence to imprisonment for life. Failing in this, they 
begged for a brief respite, and presented a petition bear- 
ing many names, but it failed to move the governor. 
The day set for the execution arrived, the preparations 
for carrying out the sentence were completed, the con- 
demned man was led to the scaffold, his arms pinioned, 
the rope was carefully adjusted. Suddenly the jail door 
bell rang. The sheriff supposing that it was the eager 
mob on the outside, paid no attention to it, but pro- 
ceeded with his unpleasant duty : the next moment the 
trap fell, and the poor man's spirit went to his reward. 
The ringing and knocking at the jail door grew louder 
and louder, and the sheriff despatched an officer to quiet 
the mob ; the officer quickly returned, bearing a message 
from the governor. The sheriff read it, and found it to 



308 BANGER IN DELAY. 

be a pardon, it came only one half minute too late ; but 

it had as well been half a million years too late, so far 

as it affected the condemned man. 

Oh, that piercing cry, " Too late ! too late ! " 

To-day, reader, it may be not too late ; to-morrow, this 

may be your cry of remorse, — too late ! I am lost ! 



" The redemption of their soul is precious." 

Ps. xlix. 8. 

I once read a very sad story of a young lady who be- 
came deeply concerned about the welfare of her soul. 
She went to her father and mother, but found no words 
of encouragement or comfort there, they being worldly 
minded and determined that their daughter should not 
settle down to the Christian life. 

They tried in many ways to win her back to the world. 

As a last resort Satan interposed, and told them to 
give a grand party, which suggestion they eagerly 
grasped, thinking to drown her soul's trouble in gayety 
and pleasure. They made great preparations, invited the 
most worldly-minded guests they could find. They pro- 
vided her an elegant wardrobe, and adorned her with rich 
jewels. The temptation was too strong, and the young 
lady thought it no harm to attend this one time, as it was 
at her own home. She thought for the sake of propriety 
she must be present. She arrayed herself in all her 
finery, and was pronounced the belle of the occasion. 

But, alas ! during the dancing she had become quite 
heated, and sought a breath of fresh air at an open win- 
dow. A chilly sensation came over her, though at the 
time she thought little of it. When the morrow came, 
she failed to come downstairs to breakfast. A physician 
was summoned, but to no purpose, the disease had taken 



DANGER IX DELAY. §09 

such hold, human skill was powerless to arrest its course. 
In a few days she felt the cold-handed messenger's pres- 
ence. She called for her mother, who quickly responded. 
She requested the dress and jewels she wore on the even- 
ing of the party to be brought her. As her eyes rested 
upon them, she said, pointing her finger at the finery, 
■■ These are the price of my soul/" 7 and sank back cold in 
death. 

Oh ! how many wails of remorse are going up to-day 
from departed and lost souls that were dragged down by 
the foolishness of this world. 



"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." 

Acts xxvi. 28. 
"almost, but lost." 
An eminent resident of a Southern state had an urgent 
business call to go at once to Europe. He hastened to 
the port to catch the steamer that sailed the next day. 
On his way to the port he met some old friends, who pro- 
posed to give a great banquet in honor of their guest. 
The vessel was to sail at 6 p. m. The banquet was to 
take place at four o'clock the next afternoon. The table 
was laden with rich delicacies and many varieties of 
wines. The gentleman became so absorbed in the com- 
pany of his entertainers, that he quite forgot the hour of 
his departure. He suddenly was startled by the sound- 
ing of the bells of the outgoing vessel. He rushed down 
to the wharf just in time to see the vessel leaving. 
Learning that another vessel would sail on the morrow, 
he returned to his companions to enjoy the banquet. 
The morrow came, and he took passage on the outgoing 
vessel, to never more set foot on land. The ship was un- 
seaworthy, and was unable to withstand the tempestuous 



310 DANGER IN DELAY. 

sea which it encountered. She went down with all on 
board. The eminent man with such bright prospects 
found his grave in the deep, simply because he allowed 
the god of this world to rule him. Similar is the case of 
the unsaved man ; the ship of salvation awaits him, but 
he is so deeply engrossed with this world that he refuses 
to go on board, and embarks on an unseaworthy ship that 
will wreck his immortal soul. Oh, my friend, take pas- 
sage now on the ship of salvation, with Christ Jesus as 
captain, and ensure thy safety. Though Satan's tem- 
pestuous waves may roll against thy vessel, it will land 
you safely. 

Safe in the arms of Jesus, 
Safe on His passage to rest, 

There shall my soul find comfort, 
Leaning- on his gentle breast. 



" I never kneiv you, depart from me." — Matt. vii. 23. 

A gentleman passing along one of the streets of New 
York one day was hailed by a well-dressed, genteel ap- 
pearing young man, who grasped him by the hand, and 

exclaimed, " How glad I am to see you Mr. . When 

did you arrive in the city ? " The gentleman looked at 
him a moment, and said, " Sir, you have the advantage of 
me. I must confess I never remember seeing you be- 
fore." The young man tried in vain to introduce himself 
by referring to a prominent man as his father. Wearied 
at the young man's attempt, and knowing him to be a 
confidence man, he said, " Young fellow, the quicker you 
depart from me, the better for you ; I never knew you. 
I fully understand your game." He hung his head, and 
walked away. 

So it will be with some of us when we stand before 



DAXGEB IN DELAY. 311 

the judgment seat of Christ. "Lord, Lord, have we not 
prophesied in thy name." " Depart from me, ye workers 
of iniquity, I never knew you." 

" And the Lord said, my spirit shall not always strive 
with man." — Gex. vi. 3. 

A gentleman having a piece of property in another 
part of the country neglected to pay 'the taxes on it, and 
it was sold by the sheriff, but the owner still had a cer- 
tain time to redeem it. He carelessly waited another 
period, and then made inquiry about the property. Word 
came back that the time of redemption had expired, and 
the property was lost. 

My unsaved friend, there will come a time when your 
time of redemption will expire. There may come a time 
when "you will seek diligently, and not find ; there may 
come a time when you will cry long and loud, but find 
it not. Now it is within your reach, now the Saviour 
awaits your coming, now the great advocate is ready to 
appear for you. But God says, '-'My spirit will not 
always strive with man." What will be your hope in 
the future, when that Spirit is withdrawn ? 

" Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me; thy rod 
and thy staff they comfort me." — Ps. xxiii. 4. 

As Addison lay on his death-bed, he sent for his step- 
son, the Earl of Warwick, and said to him, " I have sent 
for you that you may see how a Christian can die." 
Mr. Addison said, in an article that preceded his last 
hymn, "Among all the reflections that usually arise in 
the mind of a sick man, who has time and inclination 
to consider his approaching end, there is none more 



312 DAXGEB IX DELAY. 

natural than that of his going to appear naked and 
unbodied before him who made him.'* 

Kind reader, have you made the necessary preparation 
to stand face to face with your Creator ? 

" When, rising from the bed of death, 
O'erwhelmed with guilt and fear, 
I see my Maker face to face, 
Oh ! how shall I appear ? " 



"How long halt ye between two opinions?" 

1 Kings xviii. 21. 

An anxious teacher in one of our Sunday schools had 
a class of young men. Intellectually they were above 
the average ; socially, they stood high ; but neither of 
them were Christians. 

He had ofttimes earnestly prayed for them, had per- 
sonally plead with them, but it seemed he would be com- 
pelled to despair of ever seeing them brought to Christ. 
In a neighboring city a gracious revival was in progress, 
and the thought came to the teacher to invite his class 
to accompany him thither. The}' each readily accepted 
the invitation, and met at the depot at the hour ap- 
pointed. The evening was warm, and the moon shone 
brightly. When they arrived at the church, the teacher 
led the way to the front pew and, after seating his class, 
gave himself to silent prayer. At the close of the 
sermon the minister plead with unusual power for sinners 
to come to Christ. The teacher's heart almost failed 
him, as he saw no move made by his class to accept the 
invitation. He started homeward with a heavy heart. 
The train was so crowded that it fell to the lot of the 
little company to ride outside on the platform. As they 



DAXUER IN DELAY. 313 

stood there, recalling the scenes of the evening, the 
teacher led the conversation to the sermon to which 
they had listened. Each one of the class pronounced it a 
grand discourse, and freely expressed a desire to become 
a Christian at some future time. The conversation be- 
came more and more earnest as the teacher reviewed the 
grand opportunity given them to come to Christ. Sud- 
denly the jostling of the train interrupted them, and, in 
another instant, the car on which they stood went through 
the bridge into the river, and the young men were killed 
while halting between two opinions. 

Oh, how many poor souls to-day are suffering the tor- 
ments of eternal woe, because they halted too long ! 

lieader, let me warn you to decide now. "Now is the 
accepted time." Satan is making you believe the future 
will abound in opportunities. God says, " To-day, if ye 
will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. To-day, the 
" Spirit and the bride say come." Will you come ? 

" How can ye escape the damnation of hell ? " 

Matt, xxiii. 33. 

A few years ago an evangelist was holding revival 
services in a town in Scotland, and many were melted 
by the Spirit's influence, and brought to Christ. Amongst 
those who attended the meetings was a young farmer. 
The Spirit convicted him, and strove to turn him to life 
in Christ. Earnest Christians talked with him ; fervent 
prayers ascended to the throne of grace in his behalf ; 
but to all entreaties he would say, " Xot to-night, not to- 
night." So earnestly did the Spirit strive with him that 
he left his work, and prayed that God would withdraw 
his Spirit, and not further strive with him. In a few 
days all anxiety left him, and he went about his labors 



314 DANGER IN DELAY. 

undisturbed, until one day a violent fever seized him, 
which soon terminated fatally. Before he breathed his 
last he recalled the scene of his prayers, and said, " That 
sealed my doom." Oh, the countless thousands of poor 
souls now writhing in helFs torments that were blindly 
led to their doom by this great lie of Satan's ! " Xot to- 
night : plenty of time yet." 

Reader, are you trying to persuade yourself that 
" there's time enough yet ? " Are you thus trifling with 
your immortal soul ? Oh ! let me say that Satan is lead- 
ing you, and when middle age comes he will say the 
same thing. When the time allotted you is almost run, 
he will say the same thing ; when death comes to you, 
he still will preach the same to you ; and when hell's 
jaws open to receive you, then you will awake to a reali- 
zation of your condition. " To-day, if ye will hear his 
voice, harden not your hearts. Xow is the accepted 
time, — xow is the day of salvation." 



" For it is written, lie shall give his angels charge over 
thee, to keep theeP — Luke iv. 10. 

A Christian man once dreamed that he was dead, and 
had ascended to the pearly gates of the city of God. 
Before admission into the heavenly city, he was bidden 
to tarry a moment in the picture gallery ; he passed 
from scene to scene, and every one appeared familiar 
to him ; at last he recognized them as drawn from his 
own life. He noticed also, that in each picture he was 
represented as in peril of some kind. But angels sent 
of God were watching and guarding over him. This 
scene put his life in a new light, — God's messengers had 
saved and watched his every breath. In his gratitude of 
heart he raised his soul in thanksgiving to the God of 



DAGGER IN DELAY. 315 

all mercies, and praised him that he had been kept from 
harm through in eminent peril. 

Reader did yon ever think of the peril to which your 
soul is constantly subjected ? Did you ever meditate 
upon this one question. How shall I meet my God ? 
Herein is where your peril lies. How shall I meet my 
God? Oli. what danger each hour of your life. The 
gaping jaws of doom are nigh unto you, the meshes of 
Satan's web at each breath draws tighter, the emissaries 
of hell press harder upon you. The cords of sensuality 
more tightly bind you. The blinding god of this world 
sways more defiantly the sceptre of his power over 
thy head ; and amid all this, you say you are not in 
peril. 

Dear reader, through all this, God's love has gone out 
toward you ; but he says, My patience cannot always last. 
"My spirit will not always strive with you." "I have 
called you, and you gave me no answer." Then will 
come a time " when ye call, I will not answer." 

May the Spirit show you the picture gallery of your 
life, and may the terrible scene turn you to Jesus Christ, 
who '• shall give his angels charge over thee to keep 
thee." 



u The Holy Ghost soith, to-day, if ye will hear his voice, 
harden not your hearts.'' — Heb. iii. 7, 8. 

A young man came to the captain of a large ship, and 
engaged as a seaman. When well out to sea, a severe 
storm arose, and the youth trembled with fear. As the 
waves lashed higher and harder, he crept into one corner, 
and knelt down to pray. About this time, the captain 
came along, and said, " Get up from there, you coward, say 
your prayers in fine weather." The young man quickly 



316 DANGER IN BELAY. 

got up, promising himself if ever he lived to see fair 
weather he would say his prayers. The}' soon reached 
land, but the words of the captain clung to him, and so 
impressed him that he heard the gospel, and was con- 
verted, and became an able minister of Christ. Years 
after, the captain went into a chapel in New York, and a 
young man looked at him from the pulpit, and said. 
" Say your prayers in tine weather." It was the same 
young man to whom he had some years before given this 
same advice. Very few people in this enlightened age 
expect to be lost. Most every one expects at some 
future time to make his peace with God, and his calling 
and election sure. The majority look to old age as the 
time to devote to such things, when they have gotten 
all the gratification possible out of this world, and as 
the grave stares them in the face, then they anticipate 
time for preparation to meet God. 

Friend, life hangs by too slender a cord to let any such 
ideas enter your mind with safety. " While it is fine 
weather is the time to begin such preparations.'' " The 
Holy Spirit of God saith to you. to-day if ye will hear 
his voice, harden not your heart,'' to-morrow may be too 
late. 

To-day the Saviour calls, 

Oh, hear his voice ! 
To-day he bids you come, 

And make your choice. 

The Spirit entreats you. come. 

Heed thou his cry. 
The blessed Jesus waits, 

Oh, to him fly ! Oh, to him fly ! 



DANGER IN DELAY. 317 

" To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your 
hearts.'' 1 — Heb. iii. 15. 

Some years ago, two young men left home to attend 
college. During a precious revival, the Spirit convicted 
them of sin. One of them went to the president of the 
college, and asked permission for himself and companion 
to attend the revival services. The companion informed 
him that he did not care to attend the services, but 
would walk down the street with him ; they soon came 
to the church, and halted in front of the door; one 
plead with the other to come in, but he refused, and 
walked on down the street, while the other went into 
the church. Before he left, the Lord opened his eyes, 
and revealed to him the riches of a faith in Christ, and 
he rejoiced in his Saviour. At the end of their course 
at college, the two young men separated, one without" any 
particular aim in view, except to gratify present desires ; 
the other with the burden of lost souls resting upon 
him, and with a fixed determination to devote his life 
to the cause of Christ. Years passed by. One clay as 
the latter was passing along the street to the church 
where he was converted, and where he was to preach 
that day, a voice startled him. He quickly halted, to 
find by his side a poor, ragged, miserable form of 
humanity, a true and real picture of a debauched out- 
cast. The minister halted to speak with the tramp, 

" How can it be possible Mr. to see you in such a 

plight ? When I last saw you, you were leaving your 
college with high honors, and a promise of a useful life 
before you." The miserable outcast said to him, "Do 
you recall the day you plead so earnestly with me 
to go with you into yon church ? from that very hour, I 
date my misery and downfall. From that hour, God 



318 BANGER IN DELAY. 

withdrew his Spirit, and I have been sinking deeper and 
deeper into the pit of sin, until now I am at the bottom, 
without one ray of hope of ever escaping the result of 
my folly and crimes. God called, but I answered not. 
Now it is too late ; I am forever lost." 

The same story has escaped the lips of ten thousand 
lost souls. Will you not profit by such an experience, 
and seek the Lord while he may be found ? 



CHAPTER XX. 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 



Amos iv. 12. 



319 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 



u For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish 
foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power 
of God." — 1 Cor. i. 18. 

A certain author sent to a young lady a copy of a book 
he had written. The lady carelessly glanced at the con- 
tents of the volume, and laid it aside. Not long after, 
she /was requested to give her honest opinion of the book 
presented to her. She said, " To be candid, I must con- 
fess the book is very dry and uninteresting to me." 
A little later she met the author; the acquaintance 
ripened into love, and soon she became the bride of the 
uninteresting writer. She again took up the book, and 
carefully read it page by page, and found it aglow with 
interest, until it became her delight to read it ; each time 
new light came to her. How often have we heard 
worldly-minded people say, " I cannot read the word of 
God, it is too dry." My dear, lost friend, when the love 
of Christ dawns on your soul, then you will see with new 
eyes this precious well of living water springing up unto 
life eternal. Every page of " sacred writ " will sparkle 
with a new lustre as you read it. Eich jewels will shine 
forth from each verse. For all the vicissitudes of life, 
you will find a complete remedy. You may now see no 
beauty in Calvary's cross. The empty sepulchre may 
seem to you no more than a barren rock. Gethsemane 
may appear no more solemn than the laughing rills of 

321 



322 PEE SOX AL APPEALS. 

Galilee. The " upper chamber " mar seem to you no 
more sacred than the judgment hall of Pilate, and why 
not ? may be asked. I answer, because Satan has blinded 
your sight, and is to-day withholding their glory from 
your vision. Neither can you comprehend them until 
Christ opens your eyes, and cuts away these hindrances, 
and restores your spiritual vision. 

Your only hope of relief lies in a simple faith and 
belief in Him. 

" For where your treasure is, there will your heart be 
also." — Luke xii. 34. 

In the biography of Edward the First, a very touching 
incident is given us. It said he long had cherished a de- 
sire to visit the Holy Land, but ere he could so arrange 
his life, death came, and claimed him. While lying on 
his death-bed he ordered his attendants to take his heart 
after death, and convey it to the place he had so much 
wished to visit. 

You who read these lines, have you made the adorable 
Christ your heart's treasure, that in the day of his coming 
you may be found ready to obey his summons to " come 
up higher.*' Bear in mind that •'•where your treasure is, 
there will your heart be also.'' If you have chosen this 
world, then serve it with all your might, for soon you 
will leave it. If Christ is thy treasure, happy is thy lot, 
and thrice happy thy eternity. 

"Prepare to meet thy God." — Amos iv. 12. 

" A Hungarian king, being sad one day. was asked by 
his brother the reason of his heaviness of heart. • I have 
been a great sinner,' said he. •and know not how to 
die. and appear before God in the judgment/ His brother 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 323 

laughed at him. It was the custom in that country for 
the executioner to sound a trumpet before the door of 
the man who was to be executed. At midnight the 
trumpet sounded at the door of the king's brother. He 
arose and came in great haste to the king, and inquired 
in what he had offended. The king replied, ' You have 
not offended me, but if the sight of my executioner be so 
dreadful, then shall I not, who have greatly offended, fear 
to stand in judgment before Christ ? ' " 

Eeader, have you any fear of that moment when God 
will say to thy soul, come hither and be judged ? Or, 
can you say, " yea Lord I am ready ? " 

Such a time will come to you and to me. "Will we be 
prepared to meet it ? As I write, a silent prayer goes 
up that you may be led to seek that preparation. 

" But the natural man receiveth not the things of the 
spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him." 

1 Con. ii. 14. 

One of the great mercantile establishments of St. Louis, 
and with whom I was at one time engaged, found that 
the expense of the telegrams, that came to them in large 
numbers every day, was so heavy they could ill afford to 
bear it. One of the firm hit upon the happy idea of 
arranging what he called a " Telegraphic Cipher Code," 
and which consisted of a list of words, each of which was 
made to represent an entire sentence. They printed a 
large number of copies, and distributed them among their 
correspondents. With each book was a key that explained 
the workings of the book. The idea was a grand success, 
and made the expenses many times less. No outside 
party could understand the business transactions of the 
firm, and a cipher telegram appeared as an unmeaning, 



324 PERSONAL APPEALS. 

foolish mystery. So with many parts of the Bible, to the 
unregenerate man it seems a mere foolish cipher. But 
when the blessed spirit of God opens his eyes, then he 
can use the word as a key to the sweet mysteries of grace 
which were before as a garden of rich beauty, a fountain 
sealed and locked. 

"lam come that they might have life, and that they 
might have it more abundantly" — Jxo. x. 10. 

A short time ago a poor laborer, whose daily toil hardly 
brought him a sufficiency for the support of his large 
family, received a letter from his native country, stating 
that an elder brother had died. When the private papers 
of the deceased were examined, they found a will be- 
queathing a portion of the vast estate to him, and that 
it would be only necessary for him to make a jDersonal 
application, and the amount would be paid over to him. 

Friendly reader, over eighteen hundred years ago an 
elder brother died, and bequeathed to you untold riches. 
In order that you may come into possession of this vast 
wealth, you must make a personal application, and it will 
be settled upon you. There remains only a short time, 
and many claims must be settled very soon, or they will 
forever be debarred. Yours may be among that number ; 
will you not then give your immediate personal attention ? 

The free gift of salvation by God, through Jesus Christ, 
unto every one that will apply. 

" JBehold the Lamb of God, which taJceth away the sin 
of the icorld." — Jso. i. 29. 

Years ago there lived in one of the New England 
States, a poor Englishman who was feeble in mind and 
body. He felt that a just God could never pardon his past 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 325 

offences, and save him from eternal destruction. He was 
a regular attendant upon divine services, and saw his 
friends and neighbors born into the kingdom ; still, all 
seemed dark to him. He could not perceive how a just 
God could pardon such a sinner. His sleep became rest- 
less and disturbed, his very life became burdensome. At 
last, one day a Christian man went to talk with him. He 
began by taking him back to the sacrifices under the law. 
He told him how a lamb was brought by the guilty one, 
and laid bound on the altar, and he who had sinned 
laid his hands upon it confessing his sins, and its 
blood became the blood of the atonement, and he was 
thus freed from guilt. His friend then said, "Jesus 
Christ is our Lamb. He bore our sins on the cross." 
This was sufficient, the poor man exclaimed, " All is plain 
now ; Christ is the Lamb that takes away our sins," and 
he went his way, rejoicing in his new-found faith. 

Unsaved reader, I to-day point you to the " Lamb of 
God that taketh away the sins of the world." He stands 
waiting to turn the scarlet page of your life's record into 
one of snowy whiteness. Will you come and accept him ? 
" Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of 
the world." 



" All nations before him are as nothing y and they are 
counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom 
then, will ye liken God ? or what likeness will ye compare 
unto him?" — Is a. xl. 17, 18. 

In the early history of the Assyrians, they worshipped 
the sun and moon. Feeling the need of some object 
nearer to them, they chose fire as a substitute, and set 
up Ur, which signifies fire, as their god, and published a 
challenge to all other nations to stand their gods before 



326 PERSONAL APPEALS. 

Ur. Vast numbers were brought, but, being made of 
wood, of course were consumed. Finally, an Egyptian 
priest hit upon a happy scheme to destroy the reputation 
of the mighty god of the Assyrians which had so long 
been the terror of other nations. He made an image of 
burnt clay, hollow inside, and with holes in the body. 
He then filled the body with water, and stopped the holes 
with wax. His challenge to the god Ur was eagerly 
accepted, and when the fire heated the wax, it melted, 
letting the water out, and drowned the fire, ruining the 
reputation of Ur. 

!Now, every living man has a god, every nation of earth 
worships some sort of a god. It may be the god of 
wealth, honor, fame, pleasure, light, heat, wood, stone, 
metal, or it may be the God of Gods and King of Kings, 
but I say all worship some god. But " to whom then 
will we liken our God " who made the heavens and the 
earth, and who gave life, and who hath power to take it 
again ! 

Reader, are you serving some god of this world ? Let 
me say to you to " turn ye, for why will ye die." " Thou 
shalt have none other gods before Me," echoes the voice 
of Jehovah down the ages of time. 



" For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as 
the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower 
thereof falleth away? — 1 Pet. i. 24. 

A young college student took his seat one day under 
a large tree in the college grounds, and soon became 
deeply engaged with his studies. As he sat there musing 
over the subject before him, he saw a leaf fall at his feet ; 
he picked it up, and found it apparently perfect in form, 
its color as green as any on the tree. The thought 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 327 

came to him, "Why did it fall ? " The leaf seemed in a 
still, small voice to say to him, " My hold on life was 
apparently as good as any on the tree, yet I was cut off 
in the midst of life, and consigned to the scorching rays 
of the summer sun. Take heed, young man, your life 
hangs by a like slender cord. Should that cord by acci- 
dent become severed, where wilt thou find thy bed ? " 

Reader, let me ask of thee the same question. Will 
the scorching rays of God's wrath consume thee ? Or 
will angelic messengers bear thee gently away to heaven's 
eternal joys ? How will you answer ? 



" Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth 
it not, to him it is sin." — Jas. iv. 17. 

A father who had five sons, called them to him one 
morning, and bade them go to a certain field, and do a 
piece of work in a manner he minutely described to them. 
In the afternoon he came to where his sons were labor- 
ing, and found they had not followed his instructions, 
but had performed the work in a different way from that 
outlined by him. He was angry, and chastised them 
severely, beginning with the eldest. When the youngest 
son's time came, he excused him, saying, he did not know 
that which was right from the wrong, and released him. 
But the elder sons knew perfectly well what was required 
of them. 

Kind friend, God has minutely outlined our course in 
life, made everything so plain, has bidden you go into 
his vineyard, and has given you an especial duty to per- 
form. How can you hope to avert his anger by not 
performing that duty ? How can you hope to meet him 
in peace, with your duty unperformed ? 



328 PERSONAL APPEALS. 

" God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life." — Jxo. iii. 16. 

" At the close of a Gospel meeting, a man came to the 
speaker in great agony of soul. The rod of conviction 
smote him heavily, and he inquired the way of salvation. 
The man of God opened his Bible, and asked the inquirer 
to read John iii. 16 : ' God so loved the world, that he 
gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' 'Now,' 
said the speaker, ' go to your room, and take your Bible, 
and instead of the words, 'world,' and ' whosoever,' just 
put your own name in the place, and see how it will apply 
to you.' 

" A few days after, this man came again to the Chris- 
tian, with his face ablaze with the love of Christ, and he 
said, ' Sir, I am saved. I followed your instructions, and 
am noiv saved.' " 

Oh ! thou unsaved one, wilt thou do the same ? Will 
you put your name instead of the two words, and see if 
there is not a Saviour for you too ? " He is able to save 
to the uttermost all that come unto God by him." Will 
you come ? 



" Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" 

Luke x. 20. 

Several years ago, Congress enacted a law making 
every maimed and crippled soldier of the Union a pen- 
sioner at the public treasury. Among the thousands of 
applications made was that of a poor, crippled man, on 
whom depended the support of a large family. His ap- 
plication was taken up by the proper authorities, but 
after a long search the army record failed to show his 



I'FJHSOXAL APPEALS. 329 

name. Years passed, the poor fellow was struggling 
along, and had despaired of ever hearing from his appli- 
cation again. One evening as he sat with his family 
around the humble hearthstone, thinking how hard life 
was, and what little pleasure the future revealed, his son, 
who had been to the post-office, handed him a large en- 
velope. He could not imagine who had sent him such a 
message. He quickly opened it, and read, "After dili- 
gent search, your name has been found, and your pension 
allowed/' The poor man was overcome with joy. Sleep 
left his eyes, he could talk of nothing but the happy 
times in store for him. 

Unsaved friend, have you made application for eternal 
life through Christ ? Do the heavenly records show you 
as among the blood-washed throng ? Oh, the anguish of 
soul which awaits you when you stand before the Great 
Judge, and find your name is not recorded ; there, 

" In the Book of God's kingdom, 
Is your name written there ? " 

" But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of 
his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, 
it bringeth forth sin : and sin, when it is finished, bringeth 
forth death." — J as. i. 14, 15. 

Mr. Spurgeon says that he saw, while on a visit to the 
gardens of Hampton Court, many trees almost entirely 
covered, and well-nigh strangled by the huge coils of 
ivy, which were wound about them like the snakes about 
the unhappy Laocoon. There is no untwisting the folds ; 
they in their giant grip are fast fixed, and the rootlets of 
the climbers are constantly sucking the life of the trees. 
There was a day when the ivy was a tiny aspirant, only 
asking a little aid in climbing ; had it been denied, then 



330 PERSONAL APPEALS. 

the tree need not have become its victim, but by degrees 
the humble weakling grew in strength and arrogance, 
and at last it assumed the mastery, and became the 
destroyer. Just the same with the beginning of sin ; 
the least little act of disobedience, it may be a lie, 
then another, then something else, and they become 
alarmingly frequent, and each time a little more wicked 
until they gain the mastery over us, and overwhelm us, 
and at last drag our souls down to hell. " Every man is 
tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and 
enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth 
sin ; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." 

Oh ! dear young soul, profit thou by the experience of 
others, and form in thy heart fixed resolutions to resist 
the first sin, and the second, and learn to trust Jesus for 
power to do so, and you will escape much of the sorrow 
and pain that come to some of us that are older. 

When temptations come within, 

Fix your eyes upon Jesus ; 
Learn to resist the tiny sin, 

By fixing your eyes upon Jesus. 



" Seek ye first the kingdom, of God, and his righteous- 
ness ; and all these things shall be added unto yon." 

Matt. vi. 33. 

It is said of Mr. Samuel Colgate, a trusted servant of 
God, that when a mere lad he was thrown upon the world 
to care for himself. Wearied of the slow country life, 
he directed his steps toward the great city of New York, 
hoping to realize a larger income from the labor of his 
hands. He travelled with the driver of the canal team, 
and when the place was reached where Samuel was to 



PERSONAL APPEALS. 331 

take a different course, the rough and strong hand of the 
driver grasped him by the hand, and he said, "Samuel, 
seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 
and all these (temporal) things shall be added unto you." 
Kneeling, the good man invoked God's blessing on the 
lad, and they parted. Samuel did seek first the " king- 
dom of God/' He gave himself to Christ. To-day he 
not only stands among the first business men of the land, 
but he is noted far and wide as a noble Christian gentle- 
man. It pays every young man and young woman to 
start out in life with this great truth in mind, to make 
God first — self, last. God knows the things we have 
need of, and will freely supply all. 

n Rejoice, because your names are icritten in heaven. 11 

I ex.20. 

At the great Centennial celebration in Philadelphia, 
some years ago, there lay open upon a table near the 
main entrance, an immense book, said to have been the 
largest book in the world. In the book was recorded 
the name of every visitor who cared to make application 
to the keeper of the great book. More than one laid 
down the pen with a smile of satisfaction at the idea of 
having his name written in the largest book in the world, 
and more than one went home to tell that his name 
graced the pages of this most wonderful piece of the 
book-maker's skill. 

When the penitent soul comes to Christ, his name is 
placed upon heaven's records. My friend, is your name 
written there ? When Christ comes with his holy angels 
will your name be found upon the book of the saved, and 
will you be invited to take your stand on the right, with 
the redeemed of God ? 



332 PERSONAL APPEALS. 

" Mighty to save." — Is a. lxiii. 1. 

Some years ago there were sad hearts in the homes 
of a great many New England people. Word came that 
the great steamer " Atlantic " had foundered off the coast 
of Newfoundland, and many on board had perished. 

" On board was a prominent business man, who was 
reported as among those who had perished. His place 
of business was closed, and draped in mourning. Kind 
friends came to console the sorrowing ones. A telegram 
came next morning to the business partner, with only one 
word, ' Saved. 1 There was great rejoicing in that sorrow- 
ing home. The friends that had mourned with the fam- 
ily now came to rejoice with them." 

Dear, unsaved friends, may the joyful news go over the 
line to heaven that you, who have been so long tossed 
about on the sea of sin, are at last saved, and the glad 
shout of the holy angels in the presence of God will till 
the whole heavens with their praises. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 



OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS 
LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST." 

1 Cor. iii. 11. 



TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 



"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee 
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast 
sent." — Jno. xvii. 3. 

" When Bishop Beveridge was on his deathbed, a min- 
isterial friend called to see him. He said to him, ' Bishop 
Beveridge, do you know me ? ' ' Who are you ? ' re- 
plied the bishop. On being told, he said, ' I don't know 
you.' Another friend soon came in, and asked the same 
question ; but he replied, as before, ' I don't know you.' 
His faithful wife then asked him if he recognized her ; 
but he said, ' I don't know you.' Some one in the room 
said to him, 'Bishop, do you know the Lord Jesus 
Christ ? ' Like an electric flash, he brightened up and 
said, l Oh, yes, I have known him these forty years. 
Precious Saviour, he is my only hope of eternal life.' " 

Reader, this, too, is your and my only hope of eternal 
life. Satan may tell you that Christ was a mere moral 
man ; moralists may teach you that morality is the only 
thing necessary to an admittance to eternal life ; liberal- 
ists may seek to prove to you that God is too loving to 
let you be lost ; but " He that believeth that Jesus is tin 1 
Son of God shall be saved, and he that believeth not 
shall be damned." " He that hath the son hath life, and 
he that hath not the son hath not life." " Neither is 
there salvation in any other ; for there is none other 
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must 

335 



336 TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 

be saved."' " He is able to save to the uttermost, them 
that come unto God by him." •• Believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.'" " For God sent 
not his Son into the world to condemn the world : but 
that the world through him might be saved." Then, 
unsaved soul, if you are ever saved from the haunting 
torments of the future vrorld. it must be by coming to 
Jesus Christ, and confessing your sins, and pleading the 
merits of him " who came to seek and to save that which 
Avas lost." Your morality is but as " sounding brass and 
a tinkling cymbal/' in the sight of God. Will you 
come ? 

u JTe that helleveth on the Son hath everlasting life : 
and he that bdieveth not the Son shall not see life; bat 
■ ath of God abidet/i on him. 71 — Jxo. iii. 36. 

One bright summer afternoon, some years ago. a little 
party of ladies and children stood upon the wharf at a 
fashionable watering-place, awaiting the arrival of a 
steamer that would bring them husbands and fathers. 
As they waited there, enjoying the refreshing breeze, 
their attention was suddenly attracted by a loud splash 
in the water, followed instantly by a piercing scream. 
A? the startled crowd turned, they saw a young man 
struggling in the water. He could not swim, and in his 
frantic efforts to rescue himself, he was at each struggle 
getting deeper and deeper into the water, and farther 
from the shore. 

The ladies ran hither and thither to find help : they 
found only one person near, that could render any assist- 
ance ; he was an old sailor, who was standing motion- 
less, watching the poor man drown before his eyes. The 
entreaties of the ladies could not move him. until he saw 



TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 337 

the young man cease trying to save himself. As his 
1 mnds fell helplessly at his side, his face told plainly 
that he had given up in despair. As he arose the first 
time, a feeling of horror came over the little company, 
who were to be the unwilling witnesses to his death. 
When all hope was gone, the brave sailor leaped into 
the water, and, as the drowning man arose for the last 
time, seized him and bore him safely to shore. 

As the ladies gathered around him, he said, " I was 
compelled to wait until he ceased trying to save him- 
self ; for I could save him only when he was without 
strength." 

So the blessed Christ can never save a soul until that 
soul ceases trying to save itself, and gives up solely to 
the_ power of Christ to rescue it from its sin. 

Oh, how willingly he then reaches out his great arm, 
and lifts the soul out of the pit and the miry clay, and 
tenderly washes and purities it in the blood of the Lamb, 
that taketh away every stain of sin. 

" Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I icill give you rest." — Matt. xi. 28. 

A young man once came to a minister to talk with him 
about his soul. 

The minister bade him tell his story, which ran as 
follows : " For several years I was a member of a 
church, and tried hard and earnestly to live a consistent 
Christian life. I went regularly to church, taught a 
class in the Sunday school, was prompt in attending the 
weekly prayer-meetings. I ofttimes heard Christians 
say it was so easy to live a Christian life and serve God, 
but I must confess I found it not so, but the very re- 
verse. I found the yoke heavy, the burden hard to 
carry, and at last, in my despair, I gave up." 



338 TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 

" My friend/' said the minister, " I do not doubt your 
statement in the least. There are thousands of profes- 
sing Christians who, were they as frank as you, would 
say the same thing. Permit me to ask you if you were 
not trying to be saved ? " " Of course, I was," said the 
young man. " You put on the yoke with the hope that 
by wearing it you would at last find eternal life ? " 
" Just so," he replied. " Your mistake, my friend, lies 
just here. You failed to get the meaning of the whole 
text. Christ says, ' Come unto me, all ye that labor and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ' ; then he 
adds, ' Take my yoke upon you.' Did 3-011 ever experi- 
ence the sweet rest he gives, and the blessed assurance 
of salvation through simple trust in his name ? " " I 
never did, sir," the young man replied. " Then no 
wonder the yoke galled your neck." 

" If a soul," says one, " is put upon a course of 
doing, in order to be saved, instead of believing, it is pur- 
suing an unfinished work, and therefore can never have 
rest." Meanwhile eternity, because hidden, seems afar 
off, and earth with its attractions are near. The weary 
one necessarily turns to that which is seen and temporal, 
for the rest he seeks. The hungry one receives no satis- 
faction from a Christ not yet found, and turns to the 
very husks the swine do eat, for the food he craves. 



"The son of man is come to seek and to save that 
which icas lost.'''' — Luke xix. 10. 

In a Southern city, a few years ago, lived a wealth}- 
gentleman and wife. The gentleman had been successful 
in business, and had erected for himself an elegant home. 
One day he came home as usual at the dinner hour, and 
found his wife sick. He immediately summoned a phy- 



TBY1XG TO SAVE YOURSELF. 339 

sician, who informed him that he could, do nothing for her. 
A change of climate was proposed, and the anxious hus- 
band started at once for a trip to the Xorth. They had 
hardly reached the point of destination ere the dread 
disease was fully developed, and it was plain to both that 
death was very near. The wife expressed a desire to see 
a Christian. In order to gratify her wishes, her husband 
sent a note to a Christian gentleman near by. As he 
entered the door, the dying woman fixed her e}~es on him, 
and said, " I am dying, and oh, I do want to be saved ! 
I caut pray." Her words told the godly man her spirit- 
ual condition, and he asked her if she had ever tried to 
pray. " Oh, yes," she replied, " for twenty years I have 
tried hard to be a Christian." — " In what way have you 
tried ? " asked the man of God. " I have gone to church, 
read my Bible, and done the best I knew how," she said. 
" Still you are unsaved ? " asked the Christian. " Still 
unsaved.''' she said in a low voice. " What else can you 
do ? " he said. " I do not know," she replied. " I have 
sent for you to tell me." He opened his Bible, and read 
of the saving power of Jesus Christ. She listened with 
intense eagerness, and at last she exclaimed, " I thought 
I had to pray to be saved. I see now how it is, I only 
have to trust Jesus, and he will save me." Xew light 
shone into her heart, and she rejoiced in Christ Jesus. 

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I ic ill give you rest." — Matt. xi. 28. 

" A pastor was one day summoned to the bedside of a 
dying lady. He soon found that she had imbibed infi- 
delity through the influence of her teacher at school. 
He argued with her to no effect, and finally left her. to 
call the next day. When he arrived, the lady turned 
her face to the wall. 'Lucy,' said the pastor, f I have 



340 TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. 

not called to argue with }~ou, but will ask the privilege 
of reciting one verse of a precious hymn to you.' The 
lady granted his request, and he repeated, with much 
emphasis, 

' Just as I am, without one plea, 
But that thy blood was shed for me, 
And that thou bid'st me come to thee 
Lamb of God I come, I come.' 

"The pastor left her, and after several days called 
again. Taking his seat beside her bed, she turned to 
him, and repeated the verse, ' Just as I am/ and added, 
1 Oh, sir, I've come, I've come,' and soon afterwards 
peacefully folded her hands, and passed away." 

Dear friend, are you trying to save your own soul ? 
Is Satan misleading you by making you believe your own 
efforts will save you ? Let me in all sincerity tell you, 
that you are throwing your time away. You can of your- 
self do nothing more than come " just as you are, without 
one plea, but that Christ's blood was shed for thee." 
This is the ovAj way you can ever be found in the king- 
dom of the redeemed. This is the only means of escape, 
this is the only avenue by which you can leave your sin- 
ful life, and find peace with God. Take this experience 
of one who was in your position, and apply it to yourself. 

" I struggled and wrestled to win it, 
The blessing that setteth me free, 
But when I had ceased from my struggling, 
His peace Jesus gave unto me." 

"By grace are ye saved" — Eph. ii. 8. 
At the close of one of Mr. Moody's meetings he noticed 
a young lady, who had for several evenings accepted his 



TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF. Ml 

invitation to remain at the after meeting. Mr. Moody 
went to her, and asked her what her soul's trouble was. 
She frankly confessed her great desire to become a Chris- 
tian, and briefly telling of her efforts to find Christ, until 
she had almost concluded that she was beyond the power 
of Christ to save. Mr. Moody opened his Bible, and 
turned to one of those passages that so strikingly por- 
trays the lost sinner, read to her, then he turned to the 
great sacrifice Christ had made for her. Closing his 
Bible, Mr. Moody said to her, "I see wherein lies your 
difficulty, you don't believe the Bible." She quickly 
said, "You are wrong, sir, I do believe it." He turned 
to Luke vii. 50, and asked the young lady to read. She 
read, " And he said to the woman, thy faith shall save 
thee." Mr. Moody quickly looked up, and said. " Can't 
you read ? " A flush of anger came to her face as she 

informed him that she was a graduate of institute. 

She took the book once more, and read the same verse, 
"He said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee ; go 
in peace." The book fell to her lap, and a joyful light 
shone on her face, as she exclaimed, " Oh ! I see how it 
is. I see all clearly now. The woman was not trying 
to be saved, she was simply trusting Christ to save her." 
She arose, no longer trying to save herself, but rejoicing 
in the Saviour who had saved her. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



SATAN'S DEVICES 



" LEST S ATAX SHOULD GET AX ADVAXTAGE OF US I FOR 
WE ARE XOT IGXORAXT OF HIS DEVICES." 

2 Cor. ii. 11. 



343 



SATAN'S DEVICES. 



" Without me ye can do not J ting.'''' — Jno. xv. 5. 

In my father's field stood a stately walnut tree, 
very beautiful to behold, and in whose shade I often 
sat down to rest. Yet around that tree the grain never 
matured. It was puny and sickly from the start, and 
each year at harvest time we never stopped to gather it ; 
long before maturity, the blades withered and died. So 
it is in this life. Satan blinds us by offering us a shade 
in which to rest, and when Christ comes in his magnifi- 
cent glory, we too will be left standing as worthless in 
the garner of his Father. " Xothing but leaves, nothing 
but leaves." Fortunate is he who early learns to centre 
his hopes and affections on Christ, and who can have his 
abiding presence to outshine the shady nets of Satan. 
Let us remember we can do all things through Christ, 
which strengthens us, and without him we can do 
nothing. 

" Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein" 

Prov. xxvi. 27. 

A certain king ordered one of his subjects to make for 
him a chain. Xot surmising the use to which his 
master would put it, the poor fellow made a chain of 
great strength, and appeared before the king, who ex- 
pressed his admiration of the workmanship, and, turn- 
ing to his servants, bade them bind the man, and cast 
him into prison. 

345 



346 SATAN'S DEVICES. 

This is often the case with the sinner out of Christ. 
Satan makes him dig a pit, and, when it is done, he 
pulls him into it. Oh, blind, deluded, unsaved one, 
why let the old deceiver drag your immortal soul to per- 
dition ? Why not come out bravely and throw off 
your allegiance to him, and flee to Jesus, who is able to 
keep you from falling, and to present you spotless before 
the court of heaven ? Greater is he that is for your 
eternal welfare, than he who is for your everlasting de- 
struction. "Will vou take him ? 



" And ic/to is he that icill harm you, if ye be followers 
of that which is good?" — 1 Pet. iii. 13. 

During a precious revival, some years ago, when hun- 
dreds were crying out for mercy, a young man became 
earnest about his soul. A Christian man took him by 
the hand, and asked him what the trouble was in his 
heart. With faltering voice the young man replied, " I 
want to give my heart to Christ. I know that I am 
lost, but if I should do such a thing, the men in the shop 
would harass me to death. I would be compelled to 
quit my position. I could not endure the taunts and 
sneers of five hundred men, and I do not care to make a 
start, and fall back to my old ways."'' 

The gentleman opened his Bible, and read, u He that 
is for you is greater than he that is against you." and, 
turning to 2 Peter ii. 9, read, " The Lord knoweth how 
to deliver the godly." — " Will he do it ? " asked the 
young man. The gentleman assured him it was God's 
personal promise to him, and God could not lie. " I 
will ! I will ! " cried he, " take Christ as my Saviour, and 
trust all to him.'' 

The next day the young man went to his place in the 



SAT AX'S DEVICES. 347 

shop, as usual, and. as ho passed by his fellow laborers, 
he thought their look more soft than before, and many 
were the kind words on every hand that greeted him. 

Header, Satan is ever trying to pull you back by tell- 
ing you that you will be sneered at by } T our old associ- 
ates. " Remember, he that is for } t ou is greater than he 
that is against you. And those that would thrust a 
straw in your way are worthy to be let alone, and dis- 
countenanced as bosom friends. 



"lam thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." 

Gen. xv. 1. 

An American citizen in a Spanish city violated some of 
their laws. He was tried, and sentenced to be shot on a 
certain day. The American consul was appealed to, 
and did all in his power to save the condemned man. 
He called the representative of the British government 
to his aid, but the day on which the execution was to 
take place was so near at hand, it rendered an examina- 
tion of the case out of the question. 

The condemned man was led forth to the place of 
execution. The two consuls appeared on the scene, and, 
in order to stay the proceedings until the}' could collect 
evidence to clear the man, they each wrapped about the 
prisoner the flag of his country. The soldiers stood with 
their muskets levelled, and waiting for the order to fire, 
but the captain dare not give the order, and desecrate the 
flags of two powerful nations. 

Just so it is with us. Satan may so get us in his 
power that we are almost ready to fold our hands in 
despair, but that moment we apply to Christ, he throws 
around us the seal of his protection, which defies Satan 
and hell to approach it. 



348 SATAN* 8 DEVICES. 

" For man also hioiceth not his time: as the fishes that 
are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught 
in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil 
time, when itfalleth suddenly upon tJiem." — Ecl. ix. 12. 

A gentleman relating to me his success in hunting geese 
on one of the great Western prairies, told me had killed 
many thousands of them. I asked him, " How did you 
manage to kill so many?'' He replied, "I dug a long 
ditch, and placed bait on the bottom the entire length of 
the trench, then I fixed a net so it could, by pulling a 
cord, be made to fall over the ditch, and all I had to do 
was to walk along and slaughter them." 

Beloved friend, this is exactly what Satan is doing to 
thousands of our fellow-men to-day. Can it be you are 
one that he is leading into the ditch ? Oh ! let me say, 
step not therein, for they who follow his cunning devices 
shall reap the fruits of their folly. 

" He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." 

Prov. xxviii. 20. 

Some j'ears ago a Savings Bank was started in Phila- 
delphia, that promised an unusual interest on deposits. 
Thousands of poor working people flocked to the counter, 
and laid down their hard-earned dimes and dollars to be 
placed on interest. When the bank had succeeded in 
getting a great sum of money in its vaults, its doors were 
closed, and the officers fled, carrying with them both 
principal and interest, and leaving many poor families 
in want. 

Such are the investments Satan offers to-day to win us 
away from heaven, and when the end comes we will find 
both principal and interest gone, and our hopes in eter- 
nity a wreck. " Lay not up for yourselves treasures on 



SATAN'S DEVICES. 340 

earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where 
thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for your- 
selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust 
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor 
steal." 

How is it with thee, friend ? 



"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.'''' 

Ps. xiv. 1. 

Some years ago a young man came to one of our New 
England colleges ; he was the son of infidel parents, and 
possessed no religious or moral principles. His sole ob- 
ject was to seek his own present pleasure. The rules of 
the college compelled each student to be present each 
morning at the chapel prayer service. As this young 
man listened to the venerable President, when he ad- 
dressed the Invisible Being, he would say within him- 
self, " There is no God. Why all this foolishness ? " One 
day while attending these services, a still small voice 
whispered these words to him, " It may be you are mis- 
taken, it may be there is a God." His mind became 
troubled. The thought of the possibility of a hereafter 
clung to him. He went to the President of the college, 
who urged him to banish past ideas from his mind, and 
to accept Christ as a real and personal Saviour. The 
arrow of conviction sunk deep into his soul, the spirit 
enlightened his heart, and he felt that truly there is a 
God. At the next chapel services he with difficulty re- 
strained his emotions until the prayer was ended, after 
which he publicly confessed his faith in a real God and 
Saviour, and became a faithful Christian. 

How many poor souls are trying to educate their con- 
sciences to the belief in no God. Many do so simply to 



350 SATAN'S DEVICES. 

evade the responsibility of a Christian life. Some do so 
to be odd ; others, because the teachings of God's word 
are so different from their lives that it would cause them 
to make too great a sacrifice to forsake their worldliness 
for the Gospel truth ; so they accept the easiest way out 
of the dilemma, and say, "There is no God." Friend, 
there is a God, before whom you will stand, and give an 
account of your life here on earth. Are you prepared 
to meet Him ? 

"For they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares 
for my feet" — Jer. xviii. 22. 

There is a story about how the hunters capture ele- 
phants, which gives us a useful illustration of the cun- 
ning devices old Satan uses in ensnaring unguarded souls. 
The hunters tell us that they dig a large pit, and first 
cover it with small sticks, then they lay a thin layer of 
dirt, upon which they place the sod. For a few days they 
pour water on the sod, and cause the grass to grow more 
rapidly, and present a better appearance, which soon at- 
tracts the great beasts, who come along and step on the 
trap door, which lands them at the bottom of the pit. 

How eagerly Satan watches for our weak points, and 
makes the temptations more enticing that he may ensnare 
us. But, thanks be to God, through Christ we can say, 
" Get thee hence, Satan," and he leaveth us. 

" But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a 
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which 
drown men in destruction and perdition ." — 1 Tim. vi. 9. 

When Kome was besieged, it is said of the daughter of 
its ruler, that she saw the golden bracelets on the arms 
of the enemy, and sent word to them that she would 



SATAN'S DEVICES. 351 

betray her city, and deliver it into their hands, if they 
would give her their bracelets. They readily accepted 
her proposition, and before sunset the daughter had 
secretly opened one of the gates to the city, and as the 
enemy entered they threw upon her their golden brace- 
lets, and also their shields, until the great weight crushed 
her to death. 

How many, many poor souls to-day are striving to 
gain that which will, in the end. prove the means of their 
everlasting death. Reader, can it be that you are one 
of that number ? can it be that you are out of Christ, 
and lost ? If so, let me urge you to immediate action in 
seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 
and these things, so far as you have need, shall be added 
unto vou. 



CHAPTEE XXIII. 



THE BLOOD. 



"without shedding of blood is no remission." 

Heb. ix. 22. 



353 



THE BLOOD. 



" Without shedding of blood is no remission." 

Heb. ix. 22. 

It is asserted by historians that there is not a nation 
mentioned in history, the blood of whose citizens has not 
been poured out on its altars as an atonement for their 
sins, or to propitiate their deities. Even in this nine- 
teenth century, it is said that there is a custom, carefully 
kept secret by Mussulmen, which shows that they believe 
that, ""Without shedding of blood is no remission of 
sin." In time of great trouble and sorrow, when dread- 
ing the death of a favorite child, it is their custom 
to secretly kill a lamb, and sacrifice it, crying, "Allah, 
take the life of this lamb for the life of my child." The 
flesh of the lamb is then carefully removed, and given to 
religious beggars, while the skeleton is buried without 
breaking a bone. 

Christ shed his precious blood that we might be brought 
back to God, and rescued from our degradation. By the 
shedding of his blood, the way of eternal life was made 
perfect, and an invitation went forth to all the earth to 
come and partake of that sacrifice. 

u In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men 
by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." — Rom. ii. 16. 

A traveller crossing the frontier had to pass the cus- 
tom house. The examining officers said to him, " Have 

355 



356 THE BLOOD. 

you any contraband goods ? " — "I don't think I have," 
he replied. " But we cannot allow you to pass until we 
have examined you," said the officers in charge. After 
he was examined he said to the officers, " Gentlemen, 
will you permit me to tell you what thoughts this exami- 
nation has brought to my mind ? "We are all travellers 
to an eternal kingdom, into which we cannot take any 
contraband goods. By these forbidden things I mean de- 
ceitfulness, anger, pride, lying, coveteousness, and all 
such offences, which are an abomination in the sight of 
God Almighty. For all these, every man that passes the 
boundary line of the grave is searched far more strictly 
than you have searched me. God is the great searcher 
of hearts, and from him nothing is hid that shall not in 
that da}* be revealed/' 

We can conceal nothing that will not be revealed in 
that great day. The all-searching eye of God will bring 
to light all our evil deeds! 1 * But "the blood of Jesus 
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 



u The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from 
all sin." — 1 Jxo. i. 7. 

A gentleman one day asked a little girl, " Are you a 
sinner ? " She promptly replied. " Xo, sir." Somewhat 
amused at such an answer, he asked, " Have you never 
done anything wrong ? " — " Oh, yes," she replied, " a 
great many times." — " How then do you say you are not 
a sinner?" — "It is taken away" she said. "I have 
trusted Christ whose blood cleanseth us from all sin." 

Not simply from the grosser sins, but from every sin 
both great and small, the crimson tint, and the scarlet 
hue. all are made whiter than snow, through the blood 
of Jesus Christ his Son, 



THE BLOOD. 357 

Reader, think not that your sins are too great to be 
washed away ; for just such as you, his blood was shed 
on that dark day when the sun veiled its face in shame. 
For just such hearts as yours, the weary, bleeding feet of 
Christ trod the stony paths of the highways of Judea. 
For just such lost, helpless creatures as you, his strong 
arm reaches down, and rescues from the pit of despair. 

On the other hand, don't think your sins are too few, 
and too insignificant to cause any anxiety ; Satan may 
say this to you, but you can never prove it to God. " Ye 
must be born again." " Eepent and believe." " Except 
ye be converted, ye cannot see the kingdom of God." 
" He that hath the Son hath life, he that hath not the 
Son hath not life." "Believe and thou shalt be saved." 
For ." the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us 
from all sin," and sets our feet in the path that begins at 
Mount Calvary, and ends at the pearly gates of heaven. 
Will you then not come with this simple prayer in your 
heart ? — " Oh ! Lord Jesus, in view of the fact that I am 
a wretched, lost soul, swiftly passing to the beyond, a 
mountain of iniquity behind me, the gaping jaws of hell 
before me, the chains of sin holding me fast, may thy 
strong arm rescue me, and may thy blood cleanse me ; 
and thy name shall have the praises of my heart and 
life." 



" And they overcame him by the blood of the Xamb, and 
by the vjord of their testimony." — Rev. xii. 11. 

Kev. Edwin M. Long, in his "History of Hymns," 
tells the following incident illustrative of the power of 
the blood of Christ to reach to the lowest depths of deg- 
radation, and rescue the most hardened sinner from the 
pit of sin. He said, " While preaching in Maryland, I 



358 THE BLOOD. 

was told of a thief who was then and there rejoicing that 
the fountain for sin was still open. 

" The evening before the execution of a murderer, a 
devoted Christian lady felt herself constrained before 
retiring, to prolong her devotions on his behalf. In her 
importunate prayer she mentioned thieves, and similar 
characters, as those for whom the atoning blood had been 
efficacious in apostolic times. Her soul was so stirred 
with sympathy that she could not sleep for a long time. 
Toward midnight she thought she heard a noise beneath 
her bed. At length she saw the head of a thief appear. 
Being alone, and not near any of the family to whom 
she could call for help, she closed her eyes in silent 
prayer, and calmly trusted in divine aid for protection. 
The thief trod softly along the bedside, to see if she 
was asleep. He bent over her pillow, coming so near 
that she felt his breath upon her face. He then quietly 
descended the stairway, and endeavored to get out, 
but he could not find the key to the door, as that was 
kept in a secret place. While he was engaged in trying 
to escape, this Christian heroine awoke a brother, and 
told him that there was a thief in the house, who was 
trying to get out. Getting a lamp, they descended the 
stairs, when the light fell upon the face of the intruder, 
who was a man from the village whom they knew. He 
confessed that he came there to steal. Being unable to 
meet a note due the next day, of three hundred dollars, 
he knew that this lady had that amount, and, supposing 
she kept it in her bedchamber, he concealed himself under 
her bed, intending to search for it when she was asleep, 
but her prayer for thieves so completely disarmed him, 
and so convicted him of sin, that he resolved to seek 
pardon in the blood of the Lamb. After hearing his con- 
fession, the sister was so impressed with the genuineness 



THE BLOOD. 359 

of his contrition, that she told her brother to get the 
money, and loan him the amount. He afterward not 
only repaid the money, but became an earnest Christian, 
and at the time of my visit was superintendent of the 
Sunday school of the village."' 

k - The blood of Jesus Christ, His son cleanseth us from 
all sin." What encouragement to the poor, lost soul. 
No matter how low in sin, the blood cleanseth from all 
sin. Xo matter how deep in iniquity, no matter how 
degraded, Christ's blood can cleanse all. 

" Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white 
as snow : though they be red like crimson, they shall be as 
wool." — Isa. i. 18. 

There is a story told of a man who carried about with 
him a book with only three leaves in it, and not a word 
on any one of them. The first leaf was black as jet ; the 
second, red as scarlet ; the third, as white as the driven 
snow. Some one asked him one day what it meant. He 
replied, " The black leaf represents my sin ; the red 
leaf, the precious blood ; the white leaf represents my 
soul as washed in the precious blood of Christ, and 
made white as snow." 

While not a word was written in the three-leaved book, 
yet it teaches us a plainer truth than the largest volume 
ever written, aside from the Bible. "The blood of Jesus 
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 

" The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from 
all sin." — 1 Jxo. i. 7. 

Martin Luther said the devil once appeared to him 
perched upon the foot of his bed, with an immense scroll 
in his hand, which he began to unfold, showing at each 



360 THE BLOOD. 

turn some gross sin of his life. Satan asked him if he 
could be a Christian, with all these black deeds recorded 
against him. Luther replied, " Unroll all : I want to see 
it all, awful as it is." As the last roll unwound, Luther 
saw the whole page' crossed with great red marks, and he 
exclaimed. " The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 
us from all sin." 

Precious and inspiring thought ! to know that however 
black our past life has been, we can come to Christ, and 
be made pure with his righteousness, and our imperfec- 
tions made perfect through him. 

" 'Tis Jesus Christ, the first and last ; 
He saves, and he alone."' 

" The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from 
all sin.'' — 1 Jxo. i. 7. 

A missionary was travelling from one station to another 
one day, and found a poor heathen man b}' the wayside, 
dying. After doing everything in his power to relieve 
his bodily pains, he asked him if he had a hope of 
heaven. The poor man looked up, and, in a faltering 
voice, repeated, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son 
cleanseth us from all sin.'' As he finished the sentence, 
he breathed his last. The missionary saw he held, tightly 
grasped, a piece of paper ; he took it, and found it a leaf 
of the Xew Testament, containing the first chapter of 
1 John, on which was printed our text, — " The blood of 
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 

Did you ever read carefully this verse ? Observe how 
complete it is : all sin ; not only the sins of commission, 
but the sins of omission. Yea, all sin, and leaves the 
heavenly record one great white page, even whiter than 
snow. 



The blood. 361 

Sou may ask me, "How can these things be?" I 
answer, because "God so loved the world, that he gave 
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth should 
not perish, but have everlasting life." Then, he that 
believeth and comes to the Son finds pardon and forgive- 
ness of sin, is washed and cleansed by the blood of Christ 
his Son, who died to redeem a condemned race, thereby 
I laying the penalty and reconciling an offended God. 

Therefore, dear friend, there is ample provision made, 
and all that stands between you and that provision is 
your sin ; and " the blood of Jesus Christ his Son 
cleanseth from all sin." 

The course for you to pursue is to come right now, 
this moment, to Christ, and say, " Dear Saviour, I am a 
lost sinner. The clanking chains of hell hold me fast. 
I can of myself do nothing. Except thou help me, I 
must go down. My sins are too heavy : I cannot longer 
carry them. Thou hast said, ' Come unto me, all ye that 
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' and 
'He that cometh, I will in no wise cast out.' I come, 
Lamb of God, I come ! For such as I, thou hast said, 
' I came to seek and to save.' I must plead, my Saviour, 
thy merits, for within my own heart I find nothing to 
plead. I, therefore, throw myself, body and soul, at thy 
feet : 'tis all that I can do. I believe that thou canst 
save me, and save me wholly. Help my unbelief." 

Dear • friend, if you come in this spirit, your Saviour 
will meet you with outstretched arms, and draw you unto 
him ; and while the glad shout of angels resounds through- 
out the heavenly courts, Jesus washes away your fins, 
and presents your soul in spotless purity before the 
throne of God and the Lamb. This is the way you must 
come, and the only way, "for other foundation can no 
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 



362 THE BLOOD. 

" The blood of Jesus Christ his Son rfeanseth us from 
all sin." — 1 Jxo. i. 7. 

" Sister," said a dying girl, " please do get the Bible, 
and read for me that passage about the blood which 
eleanseth from sin, for I am afraid some of my sins are 
too great to be forgiven. Do look whether it says, ' all 
si//.' or only 'sin/ for I don't remember." — "Yes," 
replied the sister, " these are the exact words : ' The 
blood of Jesus Christ his Son eleanseth us from all sin.' " 
— •• Oh. that is sweet ! *' said the girl, whose fire of life 
was almost out. " for now there is pardon for all my sins." 

O thou blessed God Almighty ! I thank thee for this 
glorious fount, wherein my guilty soul may be cleansed 
and purified of all its filth, and made fit for that blest 
abode which thou in thy mercy hast prepared for those 
that love thee. Grant that when I hear thy voice saying, 
" Come up higher." and as I stand before thy throne, 
my soul may reflect the spotless purity of this cleansing 
stream; and, as I sit at thy feet, thy matchless name 
shall have the praise. Amen. 



INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 

Page 
Genesis 6:3— "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive 

with man" 311 

Genesis 15 : 1 — " I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward " . . 347 

Genesis 19: 17— "Escape for thy life" 294,302 

Exodus 4 : 12 — " Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and 

teach thee what thou shalt say " 126,174 

Exodus 15 : 11 — " Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods ? Who 

is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing 

wonders " 158 

Exodus 20 : 8 — " Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy "... 77, 87 
Numbers 10: 29—" We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord 

said, I will give it you : come thou with us, and we will do thee 

good" 174 

Numbers 25 : 4—" The fierce anger of the Lord may be turned" . . . 2S5 

Numbers 32: 23 — " Be sure your sin will find you out" 306 

Deuteronomy 11 : 18 — "Therefore, shall ye lay up these my words in your 

heart and in your soul . . . and ye shall teach them your children, 

speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou 

walkest by the way, when thou liest down and when thou risest up," 172 

Joshua 24 : 15 — " Choose you this day whom ye will serve" 286 

I. Samuel 16: 7 — '• The Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on 

the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart "... 137 
I. Kings 17: 14 — "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of 

meat shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail " 49 

I. Kings 18 : 21 — " How long halt ye between two opinions " 312 

Job 6: 24 — " Teach me, and I will hold my tongue " 26 

Job 7: 7 — " Oh, remember that my life is wind" 299 

Job 13 : 15 — " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him " 53 

Psalms 5: 11 — " But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice : let 

them ever shout for joy " 74 

Psalms 9: 9— "The Lord also will be a refuge in times of trouble " . . 24 
Psalms 14 : 1 — " The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God " . 301, 349 

Psalms 16: 11 — " In thy presence is fulness of joy " 42 

Psalms 17:5— "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip 

not " 22 

Psalms 17 : 15 — " I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness " . 160 

Psalms 19: 12 — " Cleanse thou me from secret faults" 80 

Psalms 23 : 2 — " He leadeth me" 45 



364 INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 

Psalms 23:4 — "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff 

they comfort me " 39, 311 

Psalms 25 : 14— " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him " . 43 
Psalms 31 : 2 — "Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save 

me" 211 

Psalms 32. 8—" I will guide thee with mine eye" 19 

Psalms 37: 5— "Commit thy way unto the Lord" . . 198 

Psalms 49 : 8 — " The redemption of their soul is precious " 308 

Psalms 51:17 — "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not 

despise" 19$ 

Psalms 5.5 : 17 — " Evening and morning and at noon will I pray "... 147 

Psalms 59: 10 — " Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning" . 143 

Psalms 02 — " He only is niv rock and my salvation" 20G 

Psalms 73:28 — "It is good forme to draw near to God" 100 

Psalms 77: 12 — "1 will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy 

doings" 121 

Psalms 80: 5 — " For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive ; and 

plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee " 300 

Psalms 91:9-11 — " Because thou hast made the Lord . . . thy habita- 
tion, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come 
nigh thy dwelling ; for he shall give his angels charge over thee to 

keep thee in all thy ways " 46 

Psalms 96: 1 — "O sing unto the Lord" 69 

Psalms 103:13 — "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord 

pitieth them that fear him" 75 

Psalms 107 : 2— " Let the redeemed of the Lord say so " 69 

Psalms 115:1 — " Not unto us . . . but unto thy name give glory " . . IS 

Psalms 118: 5— "I called upon the Lord in distress " 284 

Psalms 119: 18— "Open thou mine eyes" 268 

Psalms 119: 42— "For I trust in thy word" 43 

Psalms 119: 114 — " Thou art my hiding-place and my shield " .... 279 

Psalms 119: 1£5 — " Make thy face to shine upon thy servant " .... 25 

Psalms 119 : 162 — " I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil," 169 
Psalms 145: 5 — " I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and 

of thy wondrous works" 135 

Proverbs 1 : 10 — " My sou, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not " . . 78 

Proverbs 1: 24 — "I have called, and ye refused" 280,283 

Proverbs 11 : 30 — "He that winneth souls is wise" 131 

"He that is wise winneth souls." — Revised version. 

Proverbs 18 : 24 — " There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother," 5 
Proverbs 22 : 6 — " Train up a child in the way he should go ; and when 

he is old he will not depart from it " 32 

Proverbs 26: 27— " Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein " 345 

Proverbs 28 : 13 — " He that covereth his sins shall not prosper " . . . . 95 
Proverbs 28 : 20 — " He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be inno- 
cent " 348 

Ecclesiastes 9: 12 — "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishe* 
that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the 



tNDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 305 

snare : so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth 

suddenly upon them " 348 

Kcelesiastes 11 . 1 — '• Cast thy bread upon the waters ; for thou Shalt rind 

it after many days " 120, 129 

Kcelesiastes 11: 6 — " In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening 

withhold not thine hand" . - 117 

Isaiah 1: 18 — "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord" . 184 
Isaiah 1 : IS — " Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as 

snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool * . . 369 
Isaiah 5 : 20-21 — •' Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that 

put darkness for light, and light for darkness ; that put bitter for 

sweet, and sweet for bitter." 

" Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in 

their own sight " 164 

Isaiah 25 : 4 — " A refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat " . . 216 
Isaiah 29: l 1 .) — "The poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of 

Israel" 251 

Isaiah 30: 15 — " In returning and rest shall ye be saved" 250 

Isaiah 40 : 17-18— " All nations before him are as nothing ; and they are 

counted to him less than nothing and vanity. To whom, then, will ye 

liken God ? or what likeness will ye compare unto him " 325 

Isaiah 41 : 10 — " Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dismayed, for 

I am thy God " 197 

Isaiah 42: 16 — " I will make darkness light before them " 28 

Isaiah 50 : 4 — " The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, 

that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is 

weary" 130 

Isaiah 53 • 5 — " He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised 

for our iniquities " 213, 265, 288 

Isaiah 53: 6 — "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" . . . 234 
Isaiah 55: 1 — " Ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and 

he that hath no money come ye ; buy and eat, yea, come ; buy wine 

and milk without money and without price" 241 

Isaiah 55 : 11 — " So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, 

it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I 

please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it " . . . 70, 138 

Isaiah 63: 1 — « Mighty to save" 230,332 

.Jeremiah 15 : 2 — " Thou shalt tell them. Thus saith the Lord " ... 118 
Jeremiah 17: 10 — "I the Lord search the heart ; I try the reins, even 

to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit 

of his doings " 27 

Jeremiah 18 : 22— " For they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares 

for my feet " 350 

Jeremiah 21 : 14 — " But I will punish you according to the fruit of your 

doings, saith the Lord " 224 

Jeremiah 31 : 16 — "Thy work shall be rewarded " 161 

Lamentations 3: 33— " For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the 

children of men " 17 

Ezekiel 20: 47 — " I will kindle a fire in thee" 58 



366 IXDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 

Daniel 12: 3— " And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of 
the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness as the 

stars for ever and ever " 131 

Hosea 14: 8 — " From me is thy fruit found" 61 

Amos 4: 12 — " Frepare to meet thy God" 322 

Malachi 1: 10 — "I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts. 

Neither will I accept an offering at your hand " 7 

Malachi 3: 3 — "He shall sit as a refiner " 4 

Malachi 3:7—" Return unto me, and I will return unto you " . . 221, 253 

Matthew 5 : 16 — "Let your light so shine" 21,72,13? 

Matthew 5 : 44 — " But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them 
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 

which despitefully use you and persecute you " 96, 151 

Matthew 6:6 — "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, 

and when thou hast shut thy door, pray " 147 

Matthew 6: 15— "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither 

will your Father forgive your trespasses" 96 

Matthew 6: 19-20 — "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through 
and steal ; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where 
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, aud where thieves do not break 

through nor steal " 199, 204 

Matthew 6: 24 — " Xo man can serve two masters " 33 

Matthew 6: 33 — " But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his right- 
eousness, and all these things shall be added unto you " . . 104, 298. 330 
Matthew 6: 34— " Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the 

morrow shall take thought for the things of itself " 17 

Matthew 7: 1 — " Judge not that ye be not judged " 153 

Matthew 7: 5 — " Thou hypocrite " 33 

Matthew 7: 8 — "To him that knocketh, it shall be opened" 210 

Matthew 7 : 13 — " Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction "... 209 

Matthew 7: 20— "By their fruits ye shall know them" 61 

Matthew 7 : 21 — " Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of ray 

Father which is in heaven " 194 

Matthew 7 : 23— " I never knew you, depart from me" 310 

Matthew 8 : 11 — " Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit 
down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of 

Heaven " 125 

Matthew 9: 6 — " But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power 

on earth to forgive sins " 259 

Matthew 10: 8—" Freely ye have received, freely give" 58 

Matthew 10: 22— "He that endureth to the end shall be saved " . ... 107 
Matthew 10:27— "What ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the 

housetops" 66 

Matthew 10: 28 — "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to 
kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul 

and body in hell " 52 

Matthew 10: 32— " Whosoever, therefore shall confess me before men, 

him will I confess also before mv Father which is in heaven" ... 122 



INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 367 

Matthew 10. 33—" Bui whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I 
also deny before my Father which is in heaven" 8 

Matthew 10 : 37 — " lie that loveth father or mother more than me is not 

worthy of me *' 186 

Matthew 11 : 28 — " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest " 260, -201, 337, 339 

Matthew 13:46 — "When he had found one pearl of great price, went 

and sold all that he had and bought it " 212 

Matthew 10 : 24 — " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross and follow me" 105 

Matthew 10: 26 — " What shall a man give in exchange for his soul" . . 303 

Matthew 17:7 — "And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, 

and be not afraid" 11 

Matthew 17 : 20 — " If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . noth- 
ing shall be impossible unto you" 15 

Matthew 19: 29 — " And everyone that hath forsaken houses or brethren, 
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for 
my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit ever- 
lasting life " 68,119 

Matthew 23: 33 — " How can ye escape the damnation of hell" .... 313 

Matthew 24:46 — "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he 

cometh, shall find so doing" 12 

Mattfiew 25: 29 — " For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he 

shall have abundance" 114 

Matthew 25 : 32 — " And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he 

shall separate them one from another" 207 

Matthew 25 : 36 — " Naked and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited 

me, I was in prison and ye came unto me " 151, 157, 228 

Matthew 25:40 — "Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it 

unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," 14 

Matthew 25:41 — "Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, 

Depart from me, ye cursed" 304 

Mark 1:41— "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, 

and touched him, and saith unto him. I will : be thou clean "... 243 

Mark 4 : 19 — " And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, 
and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it 
becometh unfruitful " 107 

Mark 5 : lit — " Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee," 

61, 128, 132 

Mark 8: 36, 37 — " For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the 
whole world and lose his own soul ? Or what shall a man give in ex- 
change for his soul " 286 

Mark 8 : 38 — " Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me and of my 
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the 
Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father 
with the holy angels " 6 

Mark 9 : 42 —" And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that 
believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about 
his neck, and lie were cast into the sea " 73 



368 INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 

Mark 10 : 23— " How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the 

kingdom of God" 227 

Mark 10: 47 — "He heard that it was Jesus of Xazareth" 288 

Mark 10:49— "Rise, he calleth thee" 282 

Mark 11 : 13 — " And when he came to it he found nothing but leaves " . 57 
Mark 11: 26— " But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which 

is in heaven forgive your trespasses " 159 

Mark 13 : 37— " And what I say unto you, I say unto all, "Watch "... 299 

Mark 16: 16 — "He that believeth .. . shall be saved " 48 

Luke 4 : 10 — " For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, 

to keep thee " 314 

Luke 6:38 — "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, 

pressed down, and shaken together, and running over " 29 

Luke 9:23 — "And he said to them all, if any man will come after 

me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow 

me" 103 

Luke 9: 60— " Go thou and preach the kingdom of God" 139 

Luke 10: 20 — " Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" . 328, 331 
Luke 11 : 9 — "And I say unto you, ask and it shall be given you ; seek, 

and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you " .... 195 
Luke 12 : 34 — " For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," 322 
Luke 12: 37 — "Blessed are those servants whom his Lord, when he 

cometh, shall find watching" 7 

Luke 14: 17 — "Come ; for all things are now ready " 252 

Luke 14: 23 — " Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them 

to come in" 113 

Luke 14: 33 — " So likewise, Avhosoever he be of you that forsaketh not 

all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple " 28, 32 

Luke 15: 18 — " I will arise and go to my father " 246 

Luke 16 : 31 — " If they hear not 3Ioses and the prophets, neither will they 

be persuaded, though oue rose from the dead " 297 

Luke 19: 10 — " The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which 

was lost" 201,272,338 

Luke 22: 40 — " Pray that ye enter not into temptation " 143 

Luke 23: 26 —"On him they laid the cross " 180 

John 1 : 11 — " He came unto his own and his own received him not " . . 232 
John 1: 12— "As many as received him, to them gave he power to be- 
come the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name " . . 254 
John 1 : 29 — " Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the 

world" 324 

John 3 : 16 — " For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 

son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 

everlasting life" 179,248,328 

John 3 : 36 — " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life " . 269, 336 
John 4 : 13, 14 — " Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. 

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never 

thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of 

water springing up into everlasting life " 257 

John 5 : 39 — " Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal 

life" 172,176 



INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. 369 

John •"> : 40— " And ye will not conic to me, that ye might have life " . . 304 
John (*> : 37 — " Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out "... 255 
.John ().• 47 — " He that believeth on me hath everlasting life " .... 251 

John 6: 48— " I am that bread of life " 2*7 

John 8: 12 — "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light 

of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but 

shall have the light of life" 31,193,202,208 

John 8: 30 — " If the .Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free 

indeed " 203, 259 

John 9: 5 — "I am the light of the world" 19(5 

John 10: 10 — " I am come that they might have life, and that they might 

have it more abundantly " 324 

John 10: 27-28 — " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they 

follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never 

perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" .... 47 
John 12 : 32 — " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men 

uuto me " 196, 207 

John 13 : 15 — " For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I 

have done" 11 

John 14 : 2 — " In my Father's house are many mansions" 163 

John 14: 6 — " I am the way, the truth, and the life" 217 

John 14 : 27 — " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as 

the world giveth, give I unto you" 235 

John 15 : 3 — " Xow ye are clean through the word which I have spoken 

unto you " 171 

John 15 : 4 — " As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in 

the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" 116 

John 15 : 5 — " For without me ye can do nothing " 109, 345 

John 15 : 6 — " If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and 

i- withered " 115 

John 15 : 7 — " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask 

what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" . 9, 16 

John 15 : 13 — " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down 

his life for his friends " 180, 185, 187 

John 15: 27 — " Ye also shall bear witness " 13 

John 16: 23 — " Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will 

give it you " 146 

John 17:3 — "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the 

only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent " .... 5, 335 
Acts 3:6 — " Silver and gold have I none ;. but such a< I have, give I thee," 246 

Acts 5 : 29 — " We ought to obey (iod rather than men" 84 

Acts 5: 32 — " We are his witnesses" 65 

Acts 16: 30 — " What must I do to be saved" 270 

Acts 24 : 25 — " Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season 

I will call for thee " 307 

Acts 26: 28 — "Almost thou persuadest me" 21,294,305,309 

Romans 2 : 6, 7 — " Who will render to every man according to his deeds : 

To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and 

honor and immortalitv, eternal life" 16 



370 INDEX TO SCRIPTUBE TEXTS. 

Romans 2: 1G— " In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by- 
Jesus Christ according to my gospel" 355 

Romans S : 18 — " For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are 
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in 
us" 39 

Romans 12: 10 — " Be kindly affectioned one to another" 158 

Romans 14: 7 — "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to 

himself" 77 

Romans 14: 10— "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of 
Christ" 271 

Romans 14 : 12 — " So, then, every one of us shall give an account of him- 
self to God" 2(57 

I. Corinthians 1 : 18 — " For the preaching of the cross is to them that per- 
ish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God," 321 

I. Corinthians 2: 14 — "But the natural man receiveth not the things of 

the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him" 323 

I. Corinthians 5: — " A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump " ... 98 

I. Corinthians 6: 19, 20 — " And ye are nor your own, for ye are bought 
with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, 
which are God's" 187 

I. Corinthians 10: 10 — "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also mur- 
mured, and were destroyed of the destroyer " 49 

I. Corinthians 14: 19— "I had rather speak five words with my under- 
standing, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thou- 
sand words in an unknown tongue " 144 

I. Corinthians 15 : 3 — "How that Christ died for our sins " 26§ 

I. Corinthians 15 : 33 — " Evil communications corrupt good manners " . 71 

I. Corinthians 15 : 58 — " Therefore, my beloved brethren.be ye steadfast, 

unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" .... 59,134 

I. Corinthians 15 : 58 — " Your labor is not in vain in the Lord " . . . . 134 

II. Corinthians 5: 10 — "For we must all appear before the judgment 
seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, 
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad " .... 295 

II. Corinthians 5 : 19 — " God was iu Christ, reconciling the world unto 

himself" 221 

II. Corinthians 6: 2 — " Behold, now is the accepted time" 293 

II. Corinthians 6: 17 — " Wherefore come out from among them, and be 

ye separate, saith the Lord" 67 

II. Corinthians 12: 10 — " Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in re- 
proaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's 

sake, for when I am weak then am I strong" 51 

II. Corinthians 13 : 5 — " Examine yourselves ; whether ye be in the faith," 51 

Galatians 5 : 9 — " A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump " 72 

GalatiansS: 26 — "Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one 

another, envying one another " 152,157 

Galatians 6: 7 — "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall lie also reap" . 226 
Galatians 6 : 17 — " I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus " . 103, 108 
Ephesians 2:8 — " By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of 

yourselves; it is the gift of God" 254,340 



IX I) EX TO SCRIPT V BE TEXTS. 37 1 

Ephesians 6 : 11 — " Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able 

to stand against the wiles of the devil " 44, 8:!, 93 

Bphesians 6: 13— "Take unto you the whole armor of God" 45 

Ephesians 0: 17— "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 

Spirit, which is the word of God " 87,173 

Philippians 3: 13 — " Forgetting those things which are behind, and 

reaching forth unto those things which are before " 223 

Philippians 4 : 13— "I can do all things through Christ, which strength- 

eneth me" 50 

Colossians 3 :2 — " Set your affections on things above, not on things on 

the earth" 205 

I. Thessalonians 5: 17 — "Pray without ceasing" 144 

I. Timothy 3: 1G — " Without controversy, great is the mystery of godli- 
ness " 14, 19 

I. Timothy 5 : 24— " Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before 

to judgment ; and some men they follow after " 273 

I. Timothy G: 9— "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a 

snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in 

destruction and perdition " 350 

Titus 2 : 14 — " Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us " . . 182 
Hebrews 3 : 7, 8 — " The Holy Ghost saith, to-day if ye will hear his voice, 

haKden not your hearts'' 315 

Hebrews 3: 15 — "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your 

hearts " 317 

Hebrews 4 : 1 — "Let ns therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of 

entering into his rest, some of you should seem to come short of it" . 20 
Hebrews 4 : 9 — " There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," 165 
Hebrews 4: 12 — " For the word of God is quirk and powerful" . 170, 173, 175 
Hebrews 4 : 16 — " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need " . 40 
Hebrews 7: 25— " He is able also to save them to the uttermost that 

come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for 

them" 23G 242 296 

Hebrews 9: 22 — " Without shedding of blood is no remission " .... 355 
Hebrews 9: 28 — " So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" . 268 
Hebrews 10 : 24 — " And let us consider one another to provoke unto love 

and to good works" 71,123 

Hebrews 10 : 31 — " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living 

God" 228 

Hebrews 12 : 1 — " Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that dotli so 

easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before 

"s" 97 

Hebrews 12: 2 — " Looking unto Jesus" 3 

Hebrews 12: G — " For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourg- 

eth every son whom he receiveth " 27 

Hebrews 12: 14 — " Follow peace with all men, and holiness without 

which no man shall see the Lord" 156 

Hebrews 13 : 2 — "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby 

some have entertained angels unawares " 154 



372 INDEX TO SCRIPTUBE TEXTS. 

James 1 : 12 — "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when 
he is tried he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord hath prom- 
ised to them that love him" 83 

James 1 : 14, 15 — " But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of 
his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bring- 
eth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death " . . 329 

James 2 : 7 — " Do not blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are 

called" 23 

James 2 : lu — ■■ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend 

in one point, he is guilty of all " 98 

James 3:5 — -' Behold how great a matter a little fire kiudleth " . . . . 115 

James 3: (5 — "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" 152 

James 4: — " God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble," 25 

James 1 : 7 — " Kesist the devil, and he will flee from you" 8(5, 108 

James 4: 1? — " Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it 

not, to him it is sin " 327 

James 5 : 1(5 — " The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 

much " 145 

I. Peter 1: S-" Whom having not seen, ye love" 211 

I. Peter 1 : 24— " For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the 
flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth 
away" 326 

I. Peter 2 : 21 — " Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that 

ye should follow his steps " 30 

I. Peter 2: 24 — " Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the 

tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness," 233, 2.58 

I. Feter 3 : S — "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another : 

Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" 155 

I. Peter 3 : 10 — " He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain 

his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile " . . . . 154 

I. Peter 3 : 13— " And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of 

that which is good " 346 

I. Peter 5:7 — " Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you," 53. 200 

I. Peter 5:8—" The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom 

he may devour" 85,88,215 

II. Peter 2: 9— "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of 
temptations " i$ 

IT. Peter 3 : 18 — " But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 

and Saviour Jesus Christ " 105 

I. John 1: 5 — "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" .... 229 
I. John 1: 7— "The blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from 

all sin " 356, 359, 360, 362 

I. John 1 : 9— " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive 

us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness "... 224, 231. 245 
I. John 2: 9 — " He that ... hateth his brother is in darkness" . . . . 222 

i". John 4: 10 — "Herein is love" 181,183,188 

I. John 4: 17 — "Herein is our love made perfect " 1-7 

I. John 4: IS — " There is no fear in love" 41,156 

I. John 5: 17 — "All unrighteousness is sin" 60 



tNbEX TO SC1UPTCBE TEXTS. 373 

Revelation 2: 10 — " I5e thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a 

crown of life" 34 118 

Revelation 3 : 8 — " Behold, I have set before thee an open door " . . . 214 

Revelation 3 : 15 — " 1 know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. 

1 would thou wert cold or hot " 58 

Revelation 3:20— "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" 281 

Revelation 5 : '.» — " For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by 

thy blood " (55 248 

Revelation 12: 11 — " And they overcame him by the hlood of the Lamb, 

and by the word of their testimony " 357 

Revelation 14 : 13 — " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord" ... 70 

Revelation 21 : G — " 1 will give unto him that is athirst, of the fountain 

of the water of life freely " 124 

Revelation 22: 15 — "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and ■whore- 
mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and 
maketh a lie " 274 

Revelation 22 : 17 — "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life 

freely " 235, 244, 249 



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